The BMW 1 Series has been around since 2004, and it has become the leading name in the premium compact car market.
The 1 Series takes inspiration from the BMW 3 Series Compact, which was a small family car produced from 1993 to 2004 and had the dynamic abilities of the 3 Series in a more compact body. Coming in as BMW's smallest and cheapest vehicle, the first 1 Series still had plenty of space and accessories to make it a tantalizing option from the get-go.
Starting off exclusively as a five-door hatchback, the three-door version was introduced three years later alongside a two-door coupe and a two-door convertible, which gave the range more adaptability and the customers more options.
BMW's M Division got hold of the 1 Series Coupe and fitted it with a 340PS engine to give the Coupe more dynamic performance and a higher top speed. With a wider track and tuned bodywork, it was sportier than the base model as, despite the change in size, it was lighter than the regular coupe.
The second generation came into production in 2011, with the coupé and convertible models of the first generation staying in the 1 Series until 2014. Since 2015, the 2nd version of the 1 Series has been released as a facelifted model, and that adds both extra features and a new exterior design. As well as the standard hatchback models, the X1 has been introduced as BMW's smallest SUV model.
The 1 Series has come a long way in its 12 years, and for more information on the 1 Series and the X1, contact your nearest Cooper BMW Centre.