On paper, the package is very exciting. BMW has fitted its smallest car with one of its largest engines, and taken the trouble to modify it in the process: in the 330i, 530i and 630i, the 2996cc six-cylinder petrol unit produces 258bhp, but in the 130i the output is boosted to 265bhp as a result of improved airflow and cooling and a low-friction, electronically-driven water pump. This upgrading probably doesn't make a great deal of difference, but it emphasises the point that BMW is very serious about the 130i being a truly hot hatchback.
As well as being unusually powerful within its market sector, the 130i is also unique in being rear-wheel drive. BMW has spent a lot of money in recent years emphasising its continued insistence on this layout, and there's little doubt that it will appeal to those who still regard front-wheel drive as an ungodly abomination. We'll see shortly whether this bias is justified.
First, though, a word about the specification of the test car. The 130i comes in two forms, the more basic of which is the £24,745 SE, but we've avoided that partly because the M Sport is more interesting and partly because a BMW spokesman - who admitted he was guessing about this - reckoned that it will be the better seller. If you're considering a car of this type you probably want all the bells and whistles, and probably don't mind paying an extra £2230 for them.
Full review here