130i available from September in Germany ...

[Tjaard]

258 HP ...


Click here for the pictures ...

[BritishGreen]

From MWerks ...

BMW Great Britain is pleased to announce the introduction of the BMW 130i – a car powered by the world’s lightest six-cylinder petrol engine. First seen on the BMW 630i and the BMW 330i, the new car boasts 258bhp and 300Nm of torque to deliver class leading performance figures.

The aluminum and magnesium alloy 3.0-liter straight-six gasoline engine powers the BMW 130i from zero to 62mph in 6.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 155mph. These figures better rivals such as the Alfa Romeo 147 GTA, Audi A3 3.2 V6 Sport Quattro Sportback and the Mercedes C320 SE Sports Coupé. Such high levels of performance aligned with the near perfect 50:50 weight distribution have also resulted in the BMW 130i lapping the challenging Northern Loop of the Nürburgring in an impressive 8 minutes 35 seconds. All this and the car still posts a respectable fuel consumption figure on the combined cycle of 31.4mpg (imp)...

[JZ 2005 X3 2.5]

[mechanical lsd]

It will be interesting to see 147, A3 S'back, M-B C350SC and Clio V-6 to slug it out!

[all-new e90 330i why would anyone choose the small]

E90 330i offers virtually identical performance and more importantly,more interior and trunk space and all-important refinement.
So why would anyone choose the cramped 1er which is an older design? Besides,a 2-dr 3er will probalby be on sale earlier than 2-dr 1er!

[JZ 2005 X3 2.5]

about 500 pounds lighter. its 440 pounds lighter right now without the r6 in the 1 series.

[JZ 2005 X3 2.5]

Text & photos courtesy BMW AG
edited 02-09-2005

World’s lightest six-cylinder petrol engine powers the One
BMW Great Britain is pleased to announce the introduction of the BMW 130i – a car powered by the world’s lightest six-cylinder petrol engine. First seen on the BMW 630i and the BMW 330i, the new car boasts 258bhp and 300Nm of torque to deliver class leading performance figures.


The aluminium and magnesium alloy 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine powers the BMW 130i from zero to 62mph in 6.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 155mph. These figures better rivals such as the Alfa Romeo 147 GTA, Audi A3 3.2 V6 Sport Quattro Sportback and the Mercedes C320 SE Sports Coupé. Such high levels of performance aligned with the near perfect 50:50 weight distribution have also resulted in the BMW 130i lapping the challenging Northern Loop of the Nürburgring in an impressive 8 minutes 35 seconds. All this and the car still posts a respectable fuel consumption figure on the combined cycle of 31.4mpg.


Jim O’Donnell, Managing Director of BMW (GB) Ltd, said: "The 1 Series has proved a real hit in a market where a rear-wheel-drive car is unique and the arrival of the 130i promises to shake things up further. Some have already referred to the model as a baby ‘M’ car – something that is not surprising given it can lap the Nürburgring in a time that wouldn’t disgrace an M3."


The commendable figures are due in part to the VANOS and VALVETRONIC valve opening and valve lift control mechanisms that ensure optimum combustion and engine breathing at all times. An electrically driven water pump also cuts down on internal engine friction and improves efficiency. Power is transmitted to the road via a standard six-speed manual gearbox feeding power to the rear wheels.


Several key styling features mark the BMW 130i out from the four-cylinder-powered models already on sale. The new car receives chrome kidney grille slats, features 17-inch alloy wheels and displays large twin chrome exhaust pipes at the rear. These are more than a styling enhancement though, as the last section of the exhaust system also plays an important role in the performance of the car thanks to a valve in the rear section opening and closing depending on throttle input. At rest and slower speeds the valve is closed for better emissions, while at higher speeds it is opened fully for improved engine breathing and a more satisfying aural note.


Standard interior trim for the 130i includes Sports seats, leather steering wheel, BMW Business radio with single CD player and six airbags. Customers will also be able to specify BMW’s innovative and award-winning Active Steering system that ensures the optimum steering ratio at any speed.


An unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show in March heralds the first public appearance of the 130i before it goes on sale in

[vertigo]

(1) Cost
(2) Utility. If you drop the rear seats (I assume they fold down??)
I would guess you'd get more storage space.

[a same motor,and weights 130 lb more!!]

The price and performance difference between 1er and 3er is much smaller than their diff in space efficiency and refinement.
I don't know when the v8 M3/M4 will be on sale,but the Series 2 M1 comes in '08 the earliest! And even then it may not be available as folding-top-convertible or saloon.

[larsf]

I don't think the 130 is going to be 32K, or even over 30K. Plus it does get 1 mpg better than the 330. Why pay more for a bigger car that you don't need?

Of course this is coming from an 02 owner.

LarsLars Floden
74tii(detii'd) work in progress
<a href="http://www.lovingeveryminuteofit.com/bmw2002/">Loving Every Minute Of It</a>

[JZ 2005 X3 2.5]

[Jeroen]

<B>'97 320iC</B>

[Can't wait THAT long!]

I'm very surprised the 1er and 3er are priced so close! Even the weight and performance are virtually identical!
So when 2er comes in '07 and if it is supposed to cost more than 1er,perhaps it ends up costing even more than 3er??

[larsf]

Lars Floden
74tii(detii'd) work in progress
<a href="http://www.lovingeveryminuteofit.com/bmw2002/">Loving Every Minute Of It</a>

[me]

The lap time for the 130i is very "decent". Two of BMW's finest at the 'Ring:
M6-V10 8:00
M3 CSL 8:00
Skyline GTR: 7:52 was the old record for a production car, and the
Carrera GT (612HP) 7:32 is the fastest car on Nurburgring as of now.

Other comparisons:
7:46 - Porsche 996 GT2
7:56 - Porsche 996 Turbo
7:57 - Lotec Porsche 993 Turbo (600 HP, racing suspension)
8:07 - Ferrari 550
8:07 - Porsche 996 GT3
8:09 - Lamborghini Diablo SV
8:09 - Ferrari 360 Modena
8:10 - Chrysler Viper GTS
8:12 - Porsche 993 Turbo (430 HP version)
8:15 - BMW Z8 400 HP
8:17 - Porsche 996 C2
8:18 - Ferrari F355
8:22 - BMW M Coupe 321 HP
8:25 - Audi RS4 375 HP
8:28 - Porsche 993 C2
8:28 - BMW M5 400 HP
8:32 - Porsche Boxster S
8:35 - BMW M3 Coupe 321 HP
8:37 - Mercedes C32 AMG
8:38 - Honda NSX
8:39 - Honda S2000
8:40 - Chevrolet Corvette
8:42 - Audi S4 265 HP
8:42 - Lotus Exige
8:49 - Jaguar XKR Coupe
8:52 - Mercedes CLK 430

[Einser fahrer]

The fastest production car around the Nordschleife is a Donkervoort.

"The lap record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife had been in the hands of the Porsche Carrera GT since September. But now that time has been broken again. The new number one is called... Donkervoort.

The Porsche Carrera GT was beaten by no less than 15 seconds by the Donkervoort 270 RS. The record breaking car is derived from the D8 270, which will become available next spring. The Donkervoort was prepared fully in accordance with the rules of German magazine ´Sport Auto´ that has been organising the record attempts since 1995.
In September the chief editor of ´Sport Auto´ sat behind the wheel of a 612 hp strong Carrera GT and achieved 7,32.44 minutes on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. German Donkervoort dealer Michael Dütching managed it in 7,18.01 minuten. So now Donkervoort is holder of the ´Sport Auto´ Trophy.
According to proprietor Joop Donkervoort the feat is mainly thanks to the special configuration of the suspension and the enormously stiff chassis of the 270 RS. 'The strength of Donkervoort is the fact that owners can take their cars straight from the public road onto the circuit'."

[smedin330ci]

Don't believe it. BMW also lists the 3.0 Z4 as being only a tick faster to 60 than the E46 330i, but in reality, C & D achieved a 0-60 in 5.3 in the Z4 versus 5.9 in the 330i.

Note that both times are at least .5 sec quicker for each car than the "official" factory figures.

I'm predicting a 0-60 of 5.3 seconds for the 130i, 5.7 for the new 330i from the C & D test drivers.

Just a hunch.

[backed effort of the Radical SR3 turbo!!]

[times:not even 430hp Brabus can keep up with 130i!]

These Nring times reveal the 130i's 8:35 time manages to beat many bigger,more expensive and powerful cars! It even beats near-supercars like Maser 3200 and Brabus-tuned C-class with a 8-banger!!
Zonda 7:44
murcielago 7:50
M3 CSL 7:50
911TT 7:56
ferrari 360 challenge 7:56
997 8:00
diablo 8:04
fer 575M 8:05
NSX type R 8:09(276hp only!)
996 8:17
vanqush 8:17
c5 special 8:18
Z8 8:18
RS6 8:20
Aston DB7GT 8:23
RS4 8:25
SLK32 AMG 8:26
Audi S4 8:29
M-B CLK55 AMG 8:29
BMW Z4 8:32
BMW Z3 Coupe 3.0i 8:34
> BMW 130i 8:35 (with ultraskinny 205/50-17er tyres)
M-B SportsCoupe Brabus V8 8:35 (tuned car with 430hp!!)
MB C32 AMG 8:37
Impreza Gt 8:37
S2k 8:39
Morgan Aero 8 8:39
Civic type R 8:47
Renaultsport Clio V6 8:49
Alfaromeo 156GTA 8:51
Maserati 3200GT 8:57
Golf V6 4motion 9:09

[RickKap]

the Maserati 3200 is no longer made.