New BMW 128ti confirmed for SA to take on the Golf GTI
The new BMW 128ti will launch in South Africa in the first quarter of 2021.
After thoroughly flexing its muscles at the Nurburgring, BMW has officially taken the wraps off its 128ti that will rival the Volkswagen Golf GTI.
The 128ti slots below the range-topping M135i xDrive and its specification trim is based on the M Sport trim, it comes fitted with a distinctive front apron with specially sculpted air intakes and the rear apron in High-gloss Black.
It comes with coloured accents while the outer air intakes are borrowed from the range-topping M135i xDrive.
The side skirt trim and “ti” badge are painted red on examples of the BMW 128ti with Storm Bay metallic, Mineral Grey metallic, Sapphire Black metallic or Alpine White paintwork.
If the BMW 128ti is ordered with the Melbourne Red metallic or Misano Blue metallic finishes, the accents and “ti” badge come in black.
The new BMW 128ti also spawns a Shadowline trim with a black kidney grille and black mirror caps. Buyers can have the choice of going for the optional BMW Individual lights Shadowline for the headlights.
It gets two exhaust tips with a diameter of 90 mm and it runs on 18-inch Y-spoke 553 M bi-colour light-alloy wheels that have been designed exclusively for the 128ti.
Inside, the new BMW 128ti is fitted with red accents. A large Race Red surface adorns the backrests of the standard Sensatec/cloth sport seats.
A red “ti” is stitched into the centre armrest which – like the other armrests, the door panels, the instrument panel and floor mat edging – also features red contrast stitching.
The steering wheel rim and airbag cover of the standard M Sport steering wheel also has red stitching. Access to the optional infotainment features of BMW Operating System 7.0 is via a large display grouping, whose two displays have a diagonal of up to 10.25 inches in the BMW Live Cockpit Professional.
Gesture control is also available, and a 9.2-inch BMW Head-Up Display can be specified as an option.
Its power comes from same 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that lurks in the M135i xDrive but with 195 kW and 400 Nm of torque.
BMW says the 128ti hurdles from a standstill to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds en route to a top speed of 250 km/h.
It comes standard with an eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission that sends power to the front axle.
It is fitted with standard M Sport brakes with the callipers boasting the M insignia at the front and painted red and it comes with an M sport suspension that lowers it by 10mm as well as the brand’s Performance Control.
The new BMW 128ti will launch in South Africa in the first quarter of 2021.
Source: BMW
