BMW 1-series: Second-generation model aims to exert a more grown-up appeal

摘要

You could set your watch by BMWs model renewal cycle. Seven years ago almost to the day, Autocar published its road test on the first BMW 1-series. We liked the car enough to award it a four-star rating and were impressed by its excellent performance, mechanical refinement and desirability. But it also disappointed in several key areas. The baby BMW brought a unique selling point to the premium C-segment - driven rear wheels - but not without compromise. Finding room for a longitudinal engine up front and a transmission tunnel made the car cramped in the rear. In a few areas, it fell short of BMW's usual standards on cabin quality. Most frustrating of all, it didn't have the balanced, involving drive we expected from a 'standard drive' BMW.