A series of super-economical versions of the upcoming front-drive BMW 1-series is in the works, and will likely be sold under the firm’s EfficientDynamics (ED) banner.
One of the drivetrains will be a plug-in hybrid that uses either a three-cylinder petrol or diesel engine. This model is expected to be rated below 50g/km under current EU regulations.
There will also be super-frugal 1-series models that use more conventional technology, including optimised aerodynamics, lowered suspension, underbody cladding and narrower wheels and tyres.
It’s also expected that the automatic versions of the 1-series will have the option of a built-in, fuel-saving coasting feature.
However, BMW sources have hinted to Autocar that this ED and hybrid technology might not be shared with Mini, even though the new Mini family and the 1-series share the same platform.
One senior source said that the majority of the BMW 1-series range needed to have very low CO2 ratings to help offset the higher emissions of BMW’s larger models. According to EU rules, the average CO2 figure across a manufacturer’s fleet will have to be just 95g/km by 2020.
