BMW will honour the end of its unique rear-wheel drive hatchback offering with a special edition M140i.

Since its debut in 2015, the M140i has offered something different from all other hot hatchback rivals, which are either front- or all-wheel drive. By remaining true to BMW’s traditional engineering principles of a longitudinally mounted in-line six engine up front, and drive sent to the rear, M140i offers a purist driving experience – combined with the practicality of a hatchback.

The next generation 1-Series will forego its segment USP by using a shared Mini front/all-wheel-drive platform, therefore drawing the curtain on BMW’s legacy of rear-wheel drive hatchbacks. BMW is honouring the poignancy of this inevitable product evolution, with special edition M140i called, rather unoriginally, the Finale Edition.

Although mechanically no different from any M140i which has gone before, the Finale Edition adds a selection of BMW options into a single package. Wheels are grey 18-inchers featuring a dual-spoke design, with the option of black or bi-colour alloys.

Special edition badging confirms that you have in fact purchased a Finale Edition while other external styling add-ons are high-gloss finishing on the kidney grille, darkened light clusters front and rear, with a black chrome tailpipe finish.

Inside, Finale Edition customers benefit from factory fitted wireless Smartphone charging and an electric sunroof.

Any future rear-wheel-drive hatchback from BMW will be powered by batteries, instead of an in-line six combusting 95 unleaded. So, if you desire the novelty of a 250 kW six-cylinder powered hot hatch, with rear-wheel drive dynamics and agility, these Finale Edition M140is are literally your last opportunity to own something of that configuration. Unfortunately, the Finale is an Australian-only model and costs an extra R30 000 over the regular 140i. As its life comes to an end, there may be South African version with similar tweaks in order to help leftover stock out of the dealership floor.

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