Tag: Leather Seats

Years built: 2004 to 2012

Bodystyles: Premium hatchback, compact coupe and convertible

The 1 Series was BMW’s riposte to the Audi A3, and to the steady encroachment of the Volkswagen Golf into ever more premium territory. Designed to give existing BMW owners something to trade down to, and to be a more affordable entry-point into the range, the 1 Series had something that no other competitor could compete with – rear-wheel drive. By using a cut-down version of 3 Series chassis, and by sending the drive power to the back wheels, the 1 Series instantly had more driver’s tool cool than any other pricey hatch, and proved to be an enormously entertaining car to drive. Thanks to a five door option it was also far more practical than the [...]

The most theft-prone vehicle in America might be the Dodge Charger. Or it might be the Ford F-250 pickup truck.

Those are the contradictory conclusions of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the insurance industry-funded Highway Loss Data Institute.

Still, the government agency and private group agree that the theft of late-model vehicles is on a rapid decline in the United States. One reason: automakers’ increasing use of ignition immobilizers, which stop thieves from hot-wiring cars. Nearly 90 percent of 2012 models are equipped with them.

In a report released on Monday, NHTSA said the car stolen most often during the 2011 calendar year was the Charger, with 4.8 thefts for every 1,000 cars produced in 2011. It was followed by the Mitsubishi Galant, Hyundai Accent, Chevrolet Impala and Chevrolet HHR among vehicles with more than 5,000 units produced that year.

Pickup trucks took the top [...]