BMW's three litre straight-six is acknowledged as the symbol of superior drivetrain technology - particularly in its latest configuration. Indeed, this engine is the role model and benchmark for engine development specialists the world over, at the same time offering all the ideal qualities appreciated so much by the sporting and ambitious driver.


The outstanding properties of this unique power unit are featured within BMW's model range in a number of different cars and classes: The BMW 630i Coupe, for example, receives all its impressive supremacy, motoring culture and efficiency from this outstanding straight-six, while in the BMW 530i the new power unit guarantees a perfect blend of motoring comfort and dynamic performance. And in the new BMW 330i, finally, the three litre in-line six-cylinder helps the entire model series, further enhance its leadership in terms of driving pleasure.


Taking the decision to offer this power unit also beneath the hood of the BMW 1 Series, BMW has paved the way to a driving experience which can hardly be described in words alone, even less so by simple facts and figures. Still, the car's performance figures and data are most certainly very impressive, the BMW 130i featuring a six-speed manual gearbox as standard accelerating from 0–100 km/h in just 6.1 seconds. Top speed, in turn, is limited electronically to 250 km/h or 155 mph. And despite this performance truly outstanding not only in the compact class, the BMW 130i makes do on average with fuel consumption of just 9.2 litres/100 km or 30.7 mpg Imp.



Occupant Safety of the Highest Standard

Not least through the use of high-strength steel, the body structure of the BMW 130i is extremely stiff and stable, providing the foundation for supreme agility and guaranteeing safe and secure driving behaviour even in a sudden lane change or turn on the road. At the same time the body lives up in full to the unique dynamic potential of the BMW 130i, offering all the safety reserves required should the worst ever come to the worst in order to ensure a wide range of all-round occupant safety.


In the event of a collision, an elaborately conceived system of longitudinal and transverse support bars carefully and efficiently takes up all forces acting on the car, the passenger cell itself remaining largely unaffected by impact forces and the loads acting on the occupants being reduced to a minimum. The extensive safety package within the car comprises three point inertia-reel belts on all seats, frontal airbags activated in two stages, side airbags at the front as well as curtain head airbags inflating around the side windows to protect both the front and rear passengers from injury.


The airbag system as well as the belt latch tensioners and belt force limiters are activated and masterminded by means of the most advanced control technology. Depending on the type and intensity of a collision, only those components are activated which are actually required to ensure optimum occupant safety. The flow of power from the battery, in turn, is automatically interrupted in the event of a collision by means of the safety battery terminal deactivating the fuel pump, opening the door locks, and switching on both the hazard warning flashers and the interior lights.


To ensure safe transportation of small passengers, the BMW 1 Series offers the option to fit up to three child seats in position by means of ISOFIX fasteners*. Where necessary, the front passenger's airbag may be deactivated for this purpose by means of a special key switch.


The BMW 1 Series has already proven the efficiency and all-round protection offered by its safety features in the Euro-NCAP crash test, completing this demanding trial with the maximum score of five stars.

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