BMW has recently registered two design patents in India – for the new 1 Series and the Skytop roadster. While the refreshed 2 Series Gran Coupe is expected to launch in India this year, this is the first time that the 1 Series hatchback and Skytop roadster seem to be on the cards for our market.
- Fourth-gen BMW 1 Series gets sleeker front end and 20-inch Curved display
- BMW Skytop is a limited-run 8 Series-based bespoke roadster
New BMW 1 Series details
Revealed in June last year, the fourth-generation 1 Series is essentially the third-gen model (which was revealed in 2019, just five years ago) as the basic underpinnings remain unchanged. However, the hatchback does get an all-new nose. The tooth-like kidney grille seen on its predecessor has been replaced with a unit that looks more like the one seen on the recently updated 3 Series, and the headlight units are slimmer. Overall, the new 1 Series looks sleeker and more angular than the outgoing mode, at least from the front. There are minor changes along the sides and the rear features new tail-lights and a new rear bumper. Naturally, the M Sport trim features more aggressive styling than the standard model.
On the inside, the 1 Series sports BMW’s 20-inch Curved Display, which is controlled by the brand’s OS 9 software, and incorporates both, the 10.7-inch digital instrument display and the 10.3-inch infotainment system. Gone is the circular iDrive controller available on the previous model, and the number of physical buttons has reduced dramatically, with even controls for the AC being incorporated in the infotainment.
In international markets, BMW offers a bevy of petrol and diesel engine options, all of which are 48V mild-hybrid units. The 1 Series petrol range has 170hp 120 and the 300hp M135 xDrive trims (petrol models no longer carry the ‘i’ suffix), while the diesel range includes the 150hp 118d and 163hp 120d.
The standard 1 Series looks slightly less sporty than the M135 trim.
Interestingly, BMW India did have the second-gen 1 Series on sale in India, but had discontinued it back in 2017 due to slow sales. At the time, the front-engine, rear-wheel-drive hatchback was available with 1.6-litre turbo-petrol and 2.0-litre diesel engine options. If BMW does plan to bring the new 1 Series to India, it’ll mark the hatchback’s return to our market after 8 years.
BMW Skytop roadster
Previewed by the BMW Concept Skytop in May 2024, the German brand announced in October that the Skytop roadster would go into production, albeit with just a 50-unit run. While BMW has not revealed pictures of the production model yet, the convertible will stick to the concept’s Z8-inspired design and the 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 powertrain. The Skytop roadster is based on the existing 8 Series and retains BMW’s iconic kidney grille, with two separate illuminated elements and horizontal slats.
The design patent seems to be of the concept, showing the ultra-thin LED headlights and huge vents on the bonnet. A distinctive central divider features on the boot – mirroring the one seen on the bonnet – and curves up into a small ducktail spoiler. The interior is swaddled in brown leather, and sports the latest generation of BMW’s iDrive infotainment system, a digital driver’s display, a familiar shifter for the automatic gearbox, and a conventional multifunction steering wheel.
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