2006 BMW 130i Preview

Ideal for Canadian BMW Enthusiasts

It has 258 horsepower, and can sprint to 100 km/h in less than 6.2 seconds before reaching an electronically limited top speed of

The spec sheet for the all-new BMW 130i compact hatchback has some truly impressive numbers on it. (Photo: BMW Canada)

250 km/h. It can lap the world-famous Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in less than eight minutes and 35 seconds (which is very fast by any definition - a Porsche 911 GT3 can lap it in 7:57). These numbers don't come from the spec sheet of the latest featherweight sports car, but from the all-new BMW 130i compact hatchback.

Since its introduction in Europe last year, the BMW 1-Series has put a different spin on the Golf-sized hatchback segment by emphasizing driver enjoyment. It takes over the position of entry-level BMW from the 3-Series, and so far it's the only vehicle in its segment to feature rear-wheel drive. While some controversy remains over the vehicle's interior and exterior styling, the use of iDrive and the lack of rear

The BMW 1-Series has put a different spin on the Golf-sized hatchback segment by emphasizing driver enjoyment. (Photo: BMW Canada)

leg room and cargo space, praise has been universal over the car's perfectly balanced chassis and fluid handling.

Upon its introduction, BMW offered the 1-Series with a set of tiny, but advanced inline fours. The cheapest way of obtaining the keys to a Beemer was through the 116i, whose stripped-out specifications were matched by a frugal 115-horsepower inline-four. Moving up to the 118i meant a more powerful 129-horsepower motor, and with 120i scripted on the tailgate, a total of 150 restless ponies could be called upon. Though the '20' designation is used on the 1-Series, it should be noted that it is an inline-four, rather than the 2.2-litre inline-six, used in the North American 320i.