BMW declares war on GTI
BMW 128ti: HOT HATCH A ‘FUN’ CAR WITH CHARACTER
Going head-to-head against local favourite is a long-term project for carmaker.
BMW has unearthed an audacious rival to the VW Golf GTI’s undisputed throne as South Africa’s most popular hot hatch in the form of the 128ti. While many have scoffed at the idea that the GTI has reason for concern, VW would be foolish to not take note of BMW’s commitment to the hot hatch segment.
Many car manufacturers have tried and dismally failed at taking on the GTI, but BMW believes its attempt offers an appealing overall proposition.
“The 128ti isn’t a limited edition aimed at selling a few models. It’s a long-term project BMW is fully committed to and we realise that we it’s something we can’t just achieve overnight,” says Ryan Warnasuriya, BMW South Africa product manager.
“No one can argue the GTI’s heritage, especially in SA. And it has established itself for offering much more than pure numbers.
“Other competitors in the past might not have always covered all the pillars to make it a proper proposition in the hot hatch segment. We want to give it our best shot have therefore placed huge emphasis on the value side of things.
“This includes the packaging, performance and technology to give it its own unique character.”
Although it officially fits into BMW’s 1 Series, the 128ti is in many ways a species on its own. Its siblings, the 118i and M135i, are a mild-mannered, front-wheel drive offering and performance model utilising all-wheel-drive respectively.
The 128ti, on the other hand, is a charming old-school, frontwheel driven pocket rocket.
It offers great handling to match the grunt, sounds good and looks the part, too, with the help of distinctive styling cues. A true “driver’s” car, as BMW puts it.
The lettering “ti” refers to “Turismo Internazionale” and has a special place in BMW’s history, reserved for particularly sporty models. This nomenclature has featured on the legendary 2002 TI (1986-71) and 325ti (1997-2000).
The 128ti is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that produces 180kW of power and 360Nm of torque, and is mated to an eight-speed Sport Steptronic transmission.
BMW claims it will reach 100km/h from a standstill in 6.3sec, edging the GTI’s claimed number of 6.4sec.
The hardware includes M Sport brakes and suspension tuning, Torsen limited slip front-axle differential and adapted BMW Performance Control, while launch control comes a standard.
BMW Live Cockpit Plus and Connected Package Professional adds to the comprehensive list of features.
Signature red details and ti-specific badging on the outside and inside the cabin give the 128ti its own unique character.
At R687 418, it has a price to match its performance and looks.
It is cheaper than the R689 200 GTI TCR, which will make way for the Golf 8 GTI later this year.
“The 128ti is not only a fun car, but a functional one, too,” says Warnasuriya. “We want it to become a cult car and it is aimed at not only youngster, but anyone young at heart.”