1-Series will be released next month

The second generation F20 1-series, as announced on the BMW Coop, will be released in the UK after it's debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show (15-25 Sept). This is confirmed by BMW's television advert for the 1-Series in the UK and specifications of the new car on their website.

Photo from bmw.co.uk 

The new 1-Series range starts at £19, 375 for a 116i ES and tops at £24, 720 for the 120d Sport/ Urban. The first five models to be launched will be: 

116i ES/ SE/ Urban/ Sport (from £19, 375 to £21,305)

118i SE/ Urban/ Sport (from £21,895 to £23,225)

116d ES/ SE/ Urban/ Sport (from £20,195 to £22,125)

118d SE/ Urban/ Sport (from £22,030 to £23,270)

120d SE/ Urban/ Sport (from £23,480 to £24,720)

For the first time, BMW are launching the 'Urban' trim line on the 1-Series. The 'Urban' trim line offers an alternative, contemporary feel for the 1-Series - complete with fresh styling and ambient white cues. A more modern take on the 'SE' but with its comforts, the Urban is a happy-medium between the SE and the Sport. However, the Urban's new styling will cost you the same as the high-level trim, the Sport model, if you set out to buy one. 

The 1-series also has to offer exceptional CO2 levels, with the flagship 120d only £30 per year to tax, in the UK. Interestingly, BMW are choosing not to launch the 120i as the flagship 1-Series for the launch of the second generation, this change indicates a shift in market and consumer attitudes concerning petrol-guzzlers, towards the more economical diesel counter-part. 

Furthermore, the diesel models are more likely to be successful amongst customers as the petrol variants are two tax bands higher than the diesels.

116i 132 CO2 g/km/ 49.6mpg/ 136bhp

118i 137 CO2 g/km/ 47.9mpg/ 170bhp

116d 117 CO2 g/km/ 62.8 mpg/ 116bhp

118d 118 CO2 g/km/ 62.8mpg/ 143bhp

120d 119 CO2 g/km/ 62.8mpg/ 184bhp

*mpg figures are based on a combined urban and extra urban cycle.

BMW speculate that the success of the 1-Series could be so great, that 20,000 units will be delivered in the UK, for 2012. With such excellent specifications and their current trend of setting new sales benchmarks, it is not surprising that they should feel confident.

The F20 hatchback will be joined by a 3-door, in addition to a coupe and convertible, in the form of the '2-Series', sometime in 2014, it is guessed. 

More on this topic soon.