The recent presentation of the BMW 1-Series M Coupe has been followed up by the introduction of the regular 2011 model year 1-Series Coupe and Convertible models
Fresh exterior design features are limited to the changed headlights and rear lights with LED strips, new styles for the 17-inch alloy and 18-inch alloy wheels and two new colour supplementing - Vermilion Red and Marrakesh Brown. The Bavarian’s designers also re-sized the vertical ventilation slits in the front apron to channel air into the wheel arches and create what they describe as an “air curtain” or aerodynamic screening effect across the face of the front wheels.
Inside were added a new sports leather steering wheel with shift paddles and an M leather steering wheel, again with shift paddles, to the cars’ options list. Other modifications consist of the new markings on the DSC button in the instrument panel as the letters DSC (Dynamic Stability control) have been changed to a new international symbol, while the light control centre and the climate control panel in the centre console now have a chrome edging.
New 1-Series Coupe and Convertible still be accessible with a choice of two powertrains, a 3.0-liter naturally aspirated inline six with 230HP and 200 lb-ft of torque for the 128i, and a 3.0-liter inline-six [N55] with a twin-scroll turbocharger providing 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque, for the 135i variants.
The 135i is fitted out with a standard 6-speed manual gearbox or optionally with BMW’s 7-speed Double Clutch Transmission (DCT). For the 135i Coupe, acceleration from 0-96km/h is reached with the standard 6-speed manual transmission in 5.1 seconds, while the DCT model performs the same speeding-up in 5.0 seconds.
A 6-speed Steptronic automatic remains optional on the 128i. By this configuration the 128i Coupe runs 0-60 mph in 6.7 seconds, or 6.1 seconds with the standard 6-speed manual transmission.
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