BMW reintroduces Turismo Internazionale (ti) specification to Australia

BMW’s famed Turismo Internationale (ti) specification will reappear next year in Australia in the form of the 180kW/380Nm 2-litre turbocharged 128ti hot hatchback.

The BMW 128ti breathes life into a long tradition at BMW, joining the 118i and flagship M135i XDrive models in the Australian line-up.

Since the 1960s the “TI” (later “ti”) badge has marked out particularly sporty members of the model range.

The history of the TI models began in 1963 with the BMW 1800 TI and reached its first major pinnacle in the form of the two-door BMW 2002 TI.

This was the car in which future Formula One driver, Le Mans winner and DTM champion Hans-Joachim Stuck teamed up with Clemens Schickentanz to win the first running of the legendary Nürburgring 24-hour race in 1970.

In the late 1990s, the BMW 3 Series Compact – in BMW 323ti and BMW 325ti form – epitomised the philosophy of the focused compact car.

The new BMW 128ti is based on the M Sport model specification available for the BMW 1 Series.

It has a distinctive front apron with specially sculpted air intakes and the rear apron from the M Sport in high-gloss black.

The BMW 128ti underscores its standalone character with striking coloured accents.

The special covers for the outer air intakes carried over from the front apron of the range-topping BMW M135i xDrive and the trim for the Air Curtains (high-gloss black elsewhere in the
1 Series range) are in a sporting red colour including for the air vents exiting the rear wheel arches in the rear bumper.

The side skirt trim and “ti” badge located above it ahead of the rear wheels are also red on examples of the BMW 128ti with Storm Bay metallic, Mineral Grey metallic, Sapphire Black metallic and 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 recommended retail price and options list for the BMW 128ti will be confirmed closer to model launch in the first quarter of 2021.