The new BMW 1 Series Convertible

The New BMW 1 Series Convertible

BMW today reveals the all new BMW 1 Series Convertible.

This compact and outstandingly agile four-seater will be offered for sale in Australia in 2008 alongside the recently announced 1 Series Coup?©, giving BMW customers an unrivalled choice of distinctive luxury driving. The 1 Series Convertible is the only premium class vehicle of this type in the market.

The new Convertible features a multi-layer, highly insulated, electro-hydraulically folding fabric roof.

The youthful and elegant design embodies a slim silhouette, muscular wheel arches, and a distinctive shoulder line. The car looks as good with the roof up or down.

The roof opens and closes as quickly as that of the acclaimed 3 Series Convertible - within 22 seconds. The roof can fold or unfold while driving at speeds of up to 40 km/h.

The soft top is available in black or beige, or with a new anthracite finish complete with a silver effect. This worldwide first is a feature exclusively developed for the BMW 1 Series Convertible. The roof fabric is interwoven with fine shiny metallic fibres. This gives the material a high quality shimmering iridescent look, producing eye-catching reflections in sunlight.

This new fabric concept complements the two new body colours introduced specifically for the 1 Series Convertible: Kashmir Silver and Sedona Red metallic.

The Convertible also features BMW??™s pioneering Sun Reflective Technology upholstery first seen on the M6 Convertible, which greatly reduces the sun??™s heating effect on seat facings by reflecting the sun??™s ultra-violet rays. The automatic climate control also comes with a BMW exclusive convertible mode.

The 1 Series Convertible is a perfectly proportioned car with plenty of space for everyday activities. The rear seats boast a folding backrest complete with transit bag for the through-loading system.

The boot alone offers a generous 240-litres of space with the roof folded, enough for two golf bags - without taking advantage of the transit bag and through-loading aperture. When the roof is up, a further 40 litres of space is liberated in the boot.

The unique driving pleasure of the 1 Series continues with this new model thanks to rear-wheel drive and high performance engines.

In Europe, the Convertible there will be offered with four petrol engines, ranging from the 105 kW four cylinder 118i, through the 125 kW 120i and the 160 kW six-cylinder 125i, to the range-topping 225 kW Twin Turbo International Engine of the Year in the 135i Convertible.

There will also be a 130 kW four-cylinder turbo diesel with a particulate filter as standard for European markets.

The standard transmission is a six-speed manual with a six-speed Steptronic automatic available as an option.

Safety is always paramount, so BMW has of course applied all its latest technology here too including a specific roll-over protection feature with pop-up roll-over bars fitted behind the rear head rests. The typical BMW air bags, seat belt pretensioners and belt force limiters are joined by crash optimised front seat backs and head rests designed to reduce injury risk in rear end impacts. The chassis too plays an important safety role, being extremely strong and torsionally rigid.

A convertible customer enjoys life and the latest luxury features so the 1 Series Convertible boasts a unique selection of audio, communication and navigation options such as a standard AUX-In as well as USB and Bluetooth interfaces for simple connection of their music sources or alternatively complete integration of Apple iPod and other MP3 players or memory sticks.

Driving pleasure is assured thanks to the intricately designed suspension complete with rear-wheel drive that guarantees traction and un*****erated steering precision. Front aluminium suspension components keep unsprung weight low, while the lightweight steel five-arm rear axle ensures perfect tracking.

Dynamic Stability Control including dynamic traction control maintains stability under all driving conditions, while the latest electronic traction optimisation programme, as fitted to the 135i Coup?©, provides the same effect as a differential lock. In addition to energy saving power steering, BMW offers its unique active steering as an option.

In Europe, BMW will offer the 135i Convertible with an M Aerodynamics Package from the M Sports Package as standard.

BMW in Australia will announce local specification, pricing and engine options closer to launch in 2008.

???The new BMW 1 Series convertible is an exciting driver??™s car, ideally aimed at Australian customers who love that wind in the hair feeling,??? said Guenther Seemann, Managing Director of BMW Group Australia.

???The 1 Series Convertible will be particularly attractive to customers who live in the inner city where parking is hard to find, but who want to enjoy premium convertible motoring.

???This exciting new car also brings convertible BMW motoring to a new segment of the car market. We are sure that the new 1 Series convertible will be a success in Australia from the moment it arrives.

???Coupled with the already announced 135i Coup?©, BMW has two of the most attractive new cars of 2008 on the blocks, ensuring we continue to offer widest range of distinctive products to the discerning Australian luxury car market.

???Once again BMW has created a unique niche in the market with a high-quality, sporting and luxurious model,??? Mr Seemann said.

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