New 2023 BMW 1 Series: sporty M135i hot hatch version spied testing

We’ve caught the upcoming facelifted BMW 1 Series in development once again, all but confirming a full reveal will happen in the coming months. The performance-focused M135i range-topping model on show here will go up against the new Honda Civic Type R and Audi S3 in the hot hatch sector. 

Having caught the 1 Series testing in multiple forms for over a year now, we expect BMW will unveil the facelift for its entry-level model soon. The third-generation 1 Series has been with us since 2020 so a mid-life refresh is just about due. We’ve already spotted a suite of interior and exterior tweaks that’ll aim to keep it competitive in the premium hatch sector. 

The test car here is the M135i variant and we can spot new quad exhausts, a wider grille similar to the one on the new 2 Series and new bumpers front and back. The larger air intakes at the front could mean the M135i requires additional cooling for its turbocharging system - potentially as a result of more power being squeezed out of its 301bhp, 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The drivetrain will remain the same, with power sent to all four wheels.

We’ve also caught the standard 1 Series facelift testing as well. A new front grille will be the biggest design change, as well the combination of new bumpers all around and a tweaked headlight and rear light signature.

Inside the new 1 Series we can already see alterations from the current car’s technology. Rather than the new X1’s 10.25-inch infotainment panel and 10.7-inch digital dash, We’re almost certainly going to get the same 12.3-inch digital driver’s display and 10.25-inch touchscreen taken from the new 2 Series. The iDrive rotary controller will be removed in favour of a touch-only screen as BMW plans to reserve the feature for its larger models. The gear lever has also been shrunk from the usual stick shape to a small nub.

The current BMW 1 Series sits on the same UKL2 platform as the second-generation X1 SUV - recently replaced by a new third-generation X1 (which sits on an updated version of the same platform). We won’t see a fully-electric 1 Series just yet, with BMW positioning the upcoming iX1 as the firm’s smallest EV. 

It’s certainly possible that the 1 Series facelift will feature some form of hybrid technology for the first time, however. The 1 Series range could expand to include a plug-in hybrid engine option based on the 10kWh battery supported setup in the outgoing X1. This would likely deliver more than the old X1’s 30 miles of electric-only range thanks to the smaller proportions and better aerodynamic efficiency of the 1 Series. The new X1 features mild-hybrid technology on some of its engines, coming from a 48-volt power source. This power could find it’s way over to the updated 1 Series. 

These hybrid options would complement a number of three and four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines in the new 1 Series engine range when the car goes on sale sometime in 2023. 

Check out our review of the new BMW 2 Series here…