BMW 120i tries to entice younger market segment
Primastuti Handayani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
On the road, the new BMW 120i, has drawn many curious looks from motorists. It was as though people wanted to make sure that what they were seeing was really a BMW.
Hatchbacks are not all that popular here. But PT BMW Indonesia believes that this model will entice younger customers.
"We notice there is a younger target group in Indonesia that has increased purchasing power and demands differentiation and individuality. This is a small group consisting of young individuals who enjoy versatile, high quality, sports cars that stand out. The BMW 1 Series fulfills these needs," the company's president director Josef Honsel said during the launching.
Only the BMW 120i has entered the domestic market so far, although BMW also issues the BMW 116i with a gasoline engine and the BMW 118d and BMW 120d with diesel engines.
Despite being a new model, the car still carries the double kidney grille. The silhouette, however, has lower roof line, thus giving a sportier yet trendier look.
The new car is 4.2 meters long, 1.75 meters wide and 1.43 meters high with a wheelbase of 2.6 meters.
The 120i is easy to operate particularly with the start/stop button that ignites the engine.
Equipped with an in-line four-cylinder, 16-valve, 1,995 cc powertrain, the car has a maximum output of 147 horsepower at 6,200 revs per minute (rpm) with a maximum torque of 200 Newton meters at 3,600 rpm. The 120i's top speed is 217 kilometers per hour (kph) and can accelerate to 100 kph in 8.7 seconds.
The car was agile enough when being driven along the inner city toll road, and very stable even at more 120 kph, which is already over the toll road speed limit of 100 kph, thanks to the rear wheel drive system.
Since safety has become a consumer concern, BMW 120i also offers active and passive safety equipment, including Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Dynamic Brake Control (DBC), Electronic Differential Lock, Brake Force Display as well as a complete airbag system comprising head airbags for all seats.
These safety features and an exemplary protective body structure led to a five-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash test.
With the company now including a "flat tire" run feature for its cars, customers don't need to worry in the event of tire blow-outs as the can still travel for up to 150 kilometers at 80 kph with four passengers.
As if to emphasize its target of younger customers, BMW 1 series provides Bluetooth wireless connections and/or compatible plug-in connecters for an iPod for playing MP3 tracks.
Although the cabin was spacious enough, big and tall persons, whose height is over 1.75 meters, might find it cramped in the back seats.
With tough rival Mercedes-Benz also launching its new A 260 on Wednesday, the 1 Series is facing a tight competition in this market.
According to BMW Indonesia, up to first week of May the company has received 42 orders for this model.
All in all, the BMW 120i, offered at Rp 435 million (about US$46,000), will give more options for car aficionados.