Let’s take another look at the the visual differences between the facelifted BMW 1 Series hatchback and its predecessor. Opposed to what we have seen in the last few years, BMW has decided to go all-in with this facelift. Moving away from small and subtle touches, the talented design team has given the 1 Series quite a facelift.
On the outside, the most striking elements are the new lights. The great changes of the light units are not typical of BMW facelifts in recent years and without a question it suggests that BMW has learned from the feedback received on the previous model. The headlights have been heavily revised and are now slimmer, more angular and with a sporty eyebrow that gives the front-end a more unified look. The LED headlights and LED foglights also help with the more premium and dynamic look of the car.
The air intakes have also grown optically giving the car a more focused look. The kidney grille has also been revised and are now beefier and made of chrome. The rear has some distinct changes. The taillights now show the typical L-shaped lights, compared to the more square look of the previous model. LEDs are also standard. The slimmer and longer proportions make the rear look wider and sportier.
BMW has also restyled the bumper and tailpipes.
Here is a video from South Africa showing the two cars side-by-side:
