Car reviews

Bottom rung BMW motoring gets the wow factor with the arrival of the 1-Series Coupe, a balanced, well-proportioned car that follows BMW’s traditional design formula and takes over the sales slot vacated by the highly-successful 3 Series Coupe, which has moved further upmarket. Though a convertible version completes the four-strong 1-Series range, this is the best-looking offering in the line-up and looks set to achieve the aim of attracting more interest in the brand, particularly from younger buyers. Only three power units are available, but a full package of advanced engineering measures makes sure that each one returns an admirable blend of driving performance without detriment to fuel economy. The result is a winning recipe that delivers the type of drive expected by enthusiasts in svelte bodywork.