AFTER a steady start, BMW’s 1 series is firing on all cylinders. gives this nimble performer his vote of approval.

When the BMW 1 series arrived with an innovative advertising campaign in 2004, the marque had high hopes its new baby would draw in a whole new raft of buyers.

While the sales figures bear out its relative success, the car’s bullish, masculine features appeared to divide opinion right down the line.

For everyone who offered praise for the bold decision to dip a toe in the compact hatch market, there were those who found issue with its comparatively heavy handling.

But all that is about to change with the release of the next generation of the 1 series. Such is BMW’s admirable attention to product development, it seems the designers have gone back to the drawing board.

It’s not often you get to mix cars with culture, but the launch for this much-anticipated motor was held at the suitably grand Hampshire’s Highclere Castle. This stately residence is home to the Carnarvon family, with its fifth Earl having financed Howard Carter’s famous Tutankhamun digs.

In true entrepreneurial fashion, the Earl managed to squirrel away some fascinating artefacts from the digs which are now on public display.

These superb fragments of history are almost matched by the Earl’s primitive car The Red Bug which is billed as the cheapest car ever made.

Not surprisingly, BMW will not be vying for that particular accolade, but its reputation is being finely upheld by its latest 1 series.

The car’s lines have been significantly softened and it now appears a much more streamlined, elegant and enticing proposition. It seems every launch needs a buzz phrase as a spring board- the mantra of the moment is unveiled as Efficient Dynamics.

To the German firm’s credit this does in fact amount to some serious substance. At the heart of this philosophy lies a combination of engineering feats which deliver some mighty impressive stats.

These include a Brake Energy Regeneration system which enhances efficiency from the car via its advanced alternator storing up previously wasted energy such as when travelling down a hill or under braking.

There is also a very nifty auto-start stop system which automatically switches off the engine when stationary. It may take a little while to get used to this system, but all that time stood in traffic certainly does sip the petrol tank.

The addition of electronically-managed power steering and optimum gear shift symbols on the dash also adds to energy efficiency. What does all this equate to you ask? The answer is a surprising amount to be honest.

The BMW 118i is now capable of a diesel-busting 60 mpg while managing to post the lowest emissions of any car the marque has produced to date (123kg per kilometre). Emissions across the range are down up to 21 per cent which is a genuine rarity in motoring circles.

Beyond the technical wizardry of these cars, they are now far more pleasing on the eye. The key to this has been the introduction of a three-door range of models which result in much sleeker styling. This is most pronounced with its new kidney grille and lower front spoiler.

At the high end of the range is the 130i Msport that’s capable of a mouth-watering 0-60 time of just six seconds and lends the series some serious sporting pretensions.

You do of course pay a premium for this (£26,385 as against the entry price of £17,815 for the 118i) but those who crave adrenaline-fuelled driving thrills will not be disappointed.

With 265bhp at its disposal, this is a serious rear-wheel drive contender boasting impressive acceleration and edgy handling that gives a real sense of driver-car interaction.

Take a seat in its luxuriously-appointed interior and you’ll quickly feel at home. The smart sports seats are a decent touch as is the clear, uncluttered dash with the well-established if not universally loved I-Drive.

As the BMW team rightly point out, it takes a little time to adapt to, but again, once it’s logged in your mind it is fairly logical. There’s a good deal of interior space for what is a pretty compact car and those of over six foot like myself won’t be in danger of feeling like a sardine.

Its six-speed auto-gearbox has a tiptronic mode for manual shifting which is incredibly responsive and eager to progress through the gear range. Its handling and braking are spot on under some testing B-roads and motorway driving around Newbury.

Safety has not been overlooked, with six airbags and a five star Euro N-Cap rating. Like its big brother the 3 Series, the 1 has dynamic stability control that offers a sense of reassurance in terms of keeping the car on the straight and narrow.

If you don’t step out of this "pocket rocket" as its engineers term it, then there’s something seriously wrong.

Drivers will be equally impressed with the 120d diesel model (at £19,000) which also proved to be great fun to drive. Those who prefer the older styling may prefer the 5-door range. But as an all-round package the 1 series is a far more convincing and desirable prospect this time around.