For the first time ever BMW has built a front-wheel-drive performance car to take on the Golf GTI and we took it (the BMW 128ti) for a blast.
After a refreshingly short gestation period from international reveal to local arrival, boom, here it is: the BMW 128ti (ti stands for Turismo Internazionale, of course). It’s taking the fight to the people’s hot hatch, the Volkswagen Golf GTI. And well-timed it is, too, as we wait patiently for the eighth-generation of Wolfsburg’s venerable hot hatch to touchdown.
Styling-wise, the ti has torn a page out of the GTI’s playbook: red brake callipers, red ti badging down its flank and red flashes on the side skirts and front and rear bumpers mirror similar accents on the inside, including red stitching in the seats and a ti badge embroidered into the centre armrest. Yet, despite what some might consider the Bavarian’s overzealousness with the rouge, there is no denying that this vehicle resonates with people. It’s noticeable enough in execution but not over the top, and we had everyone from hardcore BMW fanboys to regular folk approaching for a closer look. The sentiment appears to be that, visually at least, BMW has captured the essence of a limited-edition model, and yet – sans crazy spoilers and splitters – the ti is not taking itself too seriously either. You can’t help but crack a smile when you’re in its presence.
The 1 Series cabin is reminiscent of many others from BMW, which is to say the architecture is well laid out and logical to use, as you’d find in a 3 or 5 Series, for example. Except, in this particular test unit, there’s more of a pared-down execution with the traditional speedo and rev counter, and not a lot of the (optionally available) digital gubbins you find fitted on it’s rival from Mercedes-AMG for example.
Setting off in pursuit of the horizon up a steep tarred climb in the Western Cape, what is immediately apparent is quick though it may be, the BMW is not overly harsh. This puts it in the same category as the VW GTI; a premium product with a sporting edge rather than an out-and-out driver’s car. We say this because it runs on regular tyres, Bridgestone Turanza S001, with a beefy profile so it sits that little bit higher off the road at each corner like it’s on tippy-toes. Then you realise the acoustics are also somewhat muted too. The engine is relatively quiet and when you do rev it out to the redline, the note remains rather flat. The upside is that the entire drivetrain is less coarse than you’d originally expect and this lends it a welcome air of refinement. For some, however, a hot hatch should have a rowdy exhaust note but the lack of aural character for the 128 ti is not a deal breaker for us.
And there’s the fact that the eight-speed Steptronic – a non-M gearbox, remember – goes about its business far more conventionally. Whether in Normal, Sport or Manual mode accessed via the steering wheel-mounted paddles, shifts simply aren’t as slick or quick as DSG of the out going Golf R.
Beneath the bonnet the 2.0-litre turbo petrol punches harder than its on paper outputs suggest. The 180 kW and 380 Nm is on par for a sporty hatchback nowadays, but peak torque starts at just 1 500 rpm which means it pulls with vigour without needing the easy-shifting transmission needing to kick down. The big news is that this ti is fitted with a limited-slip differential up front and M Sport suspension which beefs up the stabilisers and lowers the car by 10 mm, it makes use of every single kW and Nm on offer. The 0-100 km/h claim is 6.3 seconds and this car actually feels like it could achieve that figure out in the real world. It puts its power down very cleanly for a pure front wheel drive machine and the fact that this is BMW’s first attempt at this sort of vehicle is nothing short or remarkable.
We have no doubt the all-wheel drive Golf R, Mercedes-AMG A 35 and its very own sibling the M123i may pull a few car lengths off the line as they squat down with all-paw drive, but once you’re up to speed attacking a twisting road, the shortfall in performance becomes less obvious and the front-drive layout begins to show some benefits. There’s a great driving position as you sit low in the BMW as there’s no drive being transferred rearwards, of course. This simplifies the whole process and the steering feels uncorrupted, as the limited-slip differential works to quell unwanted torque steer.
Sidewinding up the sinewy spine of the mountain route it was evident just how malleable the BMW’s stiffly sprung M Sport chassis is, too. Th You can drive the 128ti cleanly and tidily as you learnt at advanced driving school, tracing a wide entry and tightening the line to get back on the power as soon as possible; however, if you want to get it moving around, it does respond to trail braking on the way into the apex which loosens the tail just a touch. The same deal with the car’s tendency towards bump oversteer before the rear tyres are up to temperature. In each case, simply boot the throttle and the 128ti pivots back into line on demand. What a hoot for a front-wheel drive.
Words: Ray Leathern | Photography: Courtesy Images
