The BMW 1 Series is a range of compact cars / small
family cars from the German manufacturer BMW. Built
to compete in the market segment of the Volkswagen
Golf, the 1 Series is the only vehicle in its class
featuring rear-wheel drive and an engine oriented
lengthwise.
The
1 Series was first offered to the market in 2004
as a 5-door hatchback using the new E87 platform.
It replaced the 3 Series compact range and is
the smallest, and most affordable, automobile
currently in production by BMW. Unlike its predecessor,
the new vehicle is built on its own platform,
however, it shares many components with the E90
3 Series. These include MacPherson struts in the
front of the car, and a trapezoidal-link rear
axle. The 1 Series is built in Regensburg, Germany,
with some of the engines coming from the Hams
Hall plant in Birmingham, England. During
its first full year on the market in 2005, it
became one of BMW's most successful products.
149,493 units were sold, coming in third place:
only the 3- and 5 Series sold better.
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