Overview
- BMW’s compact-car design lead confirmed Monday that the next 1 Series arrives in 2028 with electric and hybrid options.
- The electric variant will use BMW’s Neue Klasse platform with rear-wheel drive by default, while petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid models stay on the front-drive UKL2 architecture.
- Reports say the entry EV targets a lower price with a smaller battery and a single rear motor producing roughly 316 to 322 hp, with final specs still unannounced.
- Both versions keep a low, traditional hatchback shape, and the cabin moves to BMW’s Panoramic iDrive with a pillar-to-pillar display and a new high-power computing setup.
- BMW calls the 1 Series key to keeping the brand young after selling nearly 200,000 units last year, as it prepares to face new small EVs from Audi and Mercedes and rising pressure from BYD in Europe.