The second generation of the

BMW 1 Series The BMW 1 Series is a range of subcompact executive cars ( C-segment) manufactured by BMW since 2004. It is the successor to the BMW 3 Series Compact and is currently in its third generation. Positioned as the entry level model in BMW range of p ...

consists of the BMW F20 (5-door hatchback) and BMW F21 (3-door hatchback)

subcompact car Subcompact car is a North American classification for cars smaller than a compact car. It is broadly equivalent to the B-segment (Europe), supermini (Great Britain) or A0-class (China) classifications. According to the U.S. Environmental Pr ...

s. The F20/F21 generation was produced by BMW from 2011 to 2019 and is often collectively referred to as the F20. For the second generation of 1 Series, the coupé and convertible models marketed separately using the new BMW 2 Series nameplate. The F20/F21 was initially powered by inline-four petrol, inline-four diesel and

inline-six The straight-six engine (also referred to as an inline-six engine; abbreviated I6 or L6) is a piston engine with six cylinders arranged in a straight line along the crankshaft. A straight-six engine has perfect primary and secondary engine bala ...

petrol engines. In 2015, inline-three petrol and diesel engines were added to the model range. All engines are

turbocharged In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (often called a turbo) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to pro ...

. Unlike most hatchback competitors, the F20/F21 uses a

rear-wheel drive Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is a form of engine and transmission layout used in motor vehicles, in which the engine drives the rear wheels only. Until the late 20th century, rear-wheel drive was the most common configuration for cars. Most rear-wheel ...

(rather than front-wheel drive) for most models. The F20/F21 is the first 1 Series to offer an optional

all-wheel drive An all-wheel drive vehicle (AWD vehicle) is one with a powertrain capable of providing power to all its wheels, whether full-time or on-demand. The most common forms of all-wheel drive are: ;1x1 : All unicycles Reflecting one axle with one ...

(called "

xDrive BMW xDrive is the marketing name for the all-wheel drive system found on various BMW models since 2003. The system uses an electronically-actuated clutch-pack differential to vary the torque between the front and rear axles. Models with the DPC t ...

" by BMW). In July 2019, the BMW 1 Series (F40) began production as the successor to the F20.

Equipment

Available equipment includes satellite navigation with an 8.8-inch screen,

iDrive iDrive is an in-car communications and entertainment system, used to control most secondary vehicle systems in late-model BMW cars. It was launched in 2001, first appearing in the E65 7 Series. The system unifies an array of functions under a s ...

, LED headlights and digital radio. The interior and exterior trim is either ''Sport Line'', ''Urban Line'' or ''M-Sport Line''. These trim packages differ by alloy wheels, kidney grille, FDS, and other appearance-related features. In November 2015, the optional

Automatic parking Automatic parking is an autonomous car-maneuvering system that moves a vehicle from a traffic lane into a parking spot to perform parallel, perpendicular, or angle parking. The automatic parking system aims to enhance the comfort and safety of ...

(called "Parking Assistant", where the car steers itself to parallel park) was upgraded. 114-125 models with the M Sport trim and M135-M140 models can be fitted with M Performance Parts. These include black kidney grilles, sport brakes for 18 inch and higher wheels, side skirt ground effects, carbon fibre mirrors and an M Performance silencer system for M135 and M140 models.

Body styles

File:BMW 118i Urban Line (F20) – Heckansicht, 10. März 2012, Düsseldorf.jpg, 5-door hatchback (F20) File:BMW M135i (F21) in Uruguay - rear.jpg, 3-door hatchback (F21)

5-door hatchback (F20)

The F20 five-door hatchback was the first of the F20/F21 body styles to be released. It was unveiled in 2011 at the Frankfurt Motor Show and then the Auto Guangzhou motor show. Early models included the 116i, 118i, 116d, 118d, 120d. In 2012, the 125i, 125d and ''116d EfficientDynamics Edition'' models were introduced. In July 2012, the 114i and M135i were introduced, followed by optional all-wheel drive (xDrive) for the 120d and M135i models. After the introduction of the facelift (LCI) models in 2015, the M140i replaced the M135i, which upgraded the engine to the

BMW B58 The BMW B58 is a turbocharged straight-six engine, which began production in 2015. The B58 replaced the N55 and was launched in the F30 340i. The B58 is part of BMW's new modular engine family, each engine using a displacement of per cylinde ...

and included various cosmetic changes.

3-door hatchback (F21)

The vehicle was unveiled at the Auto Mobil International Leipzig 2012. The exterior styling was overseen by Nicolas Huet. The launch models consisted of the petrol-engined 114i, 116i, 125i and M135i models, and the diesel-engined 114d, 116d, 116d ''EfficientDynamics Edition'', 118d and 125d models. The inline-six M135i model was unveiled in the 3-door body style at the 2012 Geneva International Motor Show. From 2016, the M140i replaced the M135i, with same engine and options as F20.

Engines

Petrol

Official specifications are as follows:

Diesel

Official specifications are as follows:

Transmissions

Available transmission were: * 6-speed manual (Getrag GS6-17 in most models, ZF GS6-45BZ in M135i/M140i) * 8-speed ZF 8HP automatic.

Suspension

Like its E87 predecessor, the F20/F21 uses aluminum multi-link suspension.

Model year changes

2015 facelift

The facelift ("LCI", "F20N") changes were unveiled at the 2015 Geneva International Motor Show on 5 March, and began production later that month. Changes included: * Revised bumpers, tail-lights and LED directional headlights ("Adaptive Headlights") * Diesel engines changed from 4-cylinder N47 to 3-cylinder

BMW B37 The BMW B37 is a , diesel, 3 cylinder engine with a single, mono-scroll and VTG turbocharger. The compression ratio is 16.5:1. It is the second engine from BMW's modular engine plan sharing most of its components with the BMW B38 The BMW B38 i ...

(116d model) and 4-cylinder BMW B47 (118d, 120d and 125d models). * 116i and 118i models changed from 4-cylinder N13 engine to 3-cylinder B38. * 120i model introduced, powered by the 4-cylinder N13 engine. * M135i power increase of

2016

* M140i model replaces the M135i, powered by the 6-cylinder B58 engine. * 120i model changed from 4-cylinder N13 engine to 4-cylinder B48. * 125i model changed from 4-cylinder N20 engine to 4-cylinder B48.

2017

* Revised dashboard design and instrument cluster. *

upgraded to version 6.

Motorsport

The F20 has seen use in the

British Touring Car Championship The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom, currently organised and administered by TOCA. It was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and was renamed as ...

, with the ''BTCC BMW 125i M Sport'' entry winning the Constructors' Championship and Teams’ Championship in 2017.

Production

The F20/F21 is produced in

Leipzig, Germany Leipzig ( , ; Upper Saxon: ) is the most populous city in the German state of Saxony. Leipzig's population of 605,407 inhabitants (1.1 million in the larger urban zone) as of 2021 places the city as Germany's eighth most populous, as wel ...

and

Regensburg, Germany Regensburg or is a city in eastern Bavaria, at the confluence of the Danube, Naab and Regen rivers. It is capital of the Upper Palatinate subregion of the state in the south of Germany. With more than 150,000 inhabitants, Regensburg is the f ...

Complete knock-down A knock-down kit (also knockdown kit, knocked-down kit, or simply knockdown or KD) is a collection of parts required to assemble a product. The parts are typically manufactured in one country or region, then exported to another country or region ...

(CKD) assembly of the F20/F21 is conducted in Araquari, Brazil;

Chennai, India Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...

;. Kulim, Malaysia (by Inokom); and Rayong, Thailand.

Awards

In 2011, the F20/F21 1 Series won the ''Bild am Sonntag'' magazine Golden Steering Wheel award. In 2015, the M135i was the ''Sport Auto'' magazine winner of best compact car up to €50,000. In 2017, the M140 was the ''What Car?'' magazine winner of best hot hatch over £25,000.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bmw 1 Series 1 Series Cars introduced in 2011