A new report claims BMW will not facelift its F40-generation 1 Series, while also speculating the hatchback’s production run will be a couple of years shorter than is usually the case.

According to BMWBlog, the current-generation, front-driven 1 Series will be produced for just five years (rather than the typical seven) before an all-new model hits the scene. With mass production of BMW’s entry-level hatchback having started at the Leipzig plant in Germany in July 2019, that’d suggest a fourth-generation model would arrive towards the middle of 2024.

In addition, the publication claims the Munich-based firm has no plans to apply a traditional mid-cycle refresh to its five-door hatch.

As a reminder, only the petrol-powered 118i and the range-topping M135i xDrive are included in the range for South Africa at launch. That means SA will miss out on the 116d, the 118d and the 120d xDrive ... initially, at least.

Interestingly, a report from August 2019 suggested BMW was working on a 300 kW version of the 1 Series to slot in above the M135i, complete with a hybrid powertrain and wearing the “M140e” badge.

Original article from Car