With a wink and a nod to their compact 2002 Touring of 1971, BMW have announced the new 1-Series coupé to the world. When the original four door 1-series was launched back in 2004 it drew plaudits for its ability to carve through the curves but won no prizes for the rather cramped back seats. The coupé therefore makes more sense, a compact two-seater with occasional rear accommodation that broadens the car’s appeal in the fast-expanding ‘premium compact’ sector. It’s also notable for incorporating BMW’s EfficientDynamics programme, a brace of fuel-saving innovations the company is starting to roll out across its entire product line. Due to be be built in BMW’s Zaha Hadid-designed factory in Leipzig, the 1-series coupé is a welcome return to the compact, yet chic, car.
