The latest F40 BMW 1 Series has been launched in Singapore, with BMW Asia and Performance Motors Limited (PML) offering two variants – 118i M Sport and 118i Luxury Line – to customers there. For now, there’s only pricing for the former, which goes for SG$157,888 (RM478,716) inclusive of COE, while the latter will only be revealed later on.

In 118i guise, both variants feature a 1.5 litre turbocharged three-cylinder with 140 PS (138 hp) and 220 Nm of torque. Paired to the motor is a seven-speed dual-clutch Steptronic transmission, allowing for a century sprint time of 8.5 seconds and top speed of 213 km/h. Drive goes the front wheels, as you probably already know by now, and if you haven’t, here’s some further reading.

Other features present include the actuator contiguous wheel slip limitation (ARB) technology lifted from the BMW i3s, which is joined by BMW Performance Control (yaw moment distribution) system that suppresses any initial understeer to provide the car with a neutral steering behaviour.

Available equipment for the Singapore-market 1 Series includes full-LED headlamps and taillights, 18-inch alloy wheels for the M Sport model (17-inch alloys for the Luxury Line), BMW Live Cockpit Professional, a head-up display and backlit trim strips.

Other items include Cruise Control with braking function, and Driving Assistant, which comprises the Lane Change Warning system, Proactive Driving Assistant, rear collision warning and crossing traffic warning.

For the launch of the 1 Series in Singapore, PML also announced an exclusive partnership with Lazada, allowing allows customers to place a SG$500 (RM1,516) booking fee on the BMW LazMall store to secure a special interest rate of 1.18% for one of 11 units of the 118i M Sport. Bookings for subsequent units of will be subject to a booking fee of SG$118 (RM358) and prevailing interest rates at the time of application.

-paultan