The road winds down in front of me. I never lose sight of what lies far ahead while steering the car in the perfect trajectory with my fingertips. Then, with a slight dip of the throttle, the engine revs up and the BMW 128i surges forward, managing sharp turns and sudden decelerations without ever complaining.
Look at me; I'm like a professional F1 driver! I always seem to hit corners at their apex and synchronize my accelerations.
I'm not bragging, though; anyone could do equally well, if not better, behind the wheel of the Bavarian automaker's all-new 1-Series. In reality, this car displays so much balance and handling that even below-average drivers can impersonate Michel Vaillant -- even more so when the action takes place at a reasonable cruising speed (sometimes under legal speed limits), as was my case.
That's actually one of the great things about the new BMW 1-Series: you don't have to push the car to the limit to really enjoy it. The very essence of this machine starts with the driving excitement.
Smaller engine, same fun
Introducing the 128i, BMW's new entry-level model. While not as powerful as the twin-turbo 135i, this 230-hp coupe offers about the same fun on the road. It sprints from 0 to 100 kph in less than 6.5 seconds thanks to a surgically-precise 6-speed manual gearbox that sends power to the rear wheels.
Shifts are so well calibrated and synchronized that heel-and-toe driving becomes child's play -- even for folks like me who would never pretend to be Lewis Hamilton. You feel like you're driving a true race car while still obeying the speed limits.
Like a go-kart
The design of the 1-Series allows extraordinary handling. The coupe body style gives it an assertively sporty and pleasantly aerodynamic shape. To improve the car's balance, the wheels were pushed as close to the corners as possible, creating a longer wheelbase than most competitors. In fact, the front overhang is virtually inexistent, the wheels seemingly residing under the headlights. Such configuration allows sportier driving dynamics while eliminating understeer effects.
 |
| The very essence of this machine starts with the driving excitement. |
Look at me; I'm like a professional F1 driver! I always seem to hit corners at their apex and synchronize my accelerations.
I'm not bragging, though; anyone could do equally well, if not better, behind the wheel of the Bavarian automaker's all-new 1-Series. In reality, this car displays so much balance and handling that even below-average drivers can impersonate Michel Vaillant -- even more so when the action takes place at a reasonable cruising speed (sometimes under legal speed limits), as was my case.
That's actually one of the great things about the new BMW 1-Series: you don't have to push the car to the limit to really enjoy it. The very essence of this machine starts with the driving excitement.
Smaller engine, same fun
Introducing the 128i, BMW's new entry-level model. While not as powerful as the twin-turbo 135i, this 230-hp coupe offers about the same fun on the road. It sprints from 0 to 100 kph in less than 6.5 seconds thanks to a surgically-precise 6-speed manual gearbox that sends power to the rear wheels.
Shifts are so well calibrated and synchronized that heel-and-toe driving becomes child's play -- even for folks like me who would never pretend to be Lewis Hamilton. You feel like you're driving a true race car while still obeying the speed limits.
Like a go-kart
The design of the 1-Series allows extraordinary handling. The coupe body style gives it an assertively sporty and pleasantly aerodynamic shape. To improve the car's balance, the wheels were pushed as close to the corners as possible, creating a longer wheelbase than most competitors. In fact, the front overhang is virtually inexistent, the wheels seemingly residing under the headlights. Such configuration allows sportier driving dynamics while eliminating understeer effects.
 |
| While not as powerful as the twin-turbo 135i, this 230-hp coupe offers about the same fun on the road. |