We all want to improve our photography and create amazing images, right? We want to become more creative. Should we use technology to help us? Can it help us? I have some thoughts. In the comments section of a recent article I wrote about finding our photography voice and style, Fstoppers community member Mark Sawyer wrote, “AI hides under your bed at night, whispering ‘I can make you more creative.’” I thought this was an intriguing line. I believe many people will look at AI as a quick and easy answer for producing more creative images—better than we can produce ourselves—by typing in just a few prompt words. AI can help us develop ideas; it’s certainly a useful research tool. I can see the benefits of AI in a commercial environment. Content can be created quickly and cost-effectively. It’s a great tool to speed up production at a reduced cost. That’s a whole other discussion and article. What I’m looking at here is—will AI really help us be more creative with our photography? With our art. Sure, AI can create an impressive-looking image, an eye-catching piece of photographic art, but creativity is an expression of self. AI doesn’t have a self. It doesn’t have feelings or a soul. Advertising guru Sir John Hegarty wrote recently, “An AI has never had its heart broken. Never watched a sunrise. Or swam in the sea. A bot has no life experience. And no soul. Without this last thing, there is no ‘art.’” For me, great photographic art is self-expression based on life experiences and how those experiences make us feel. A computer algorithm knows nothing of this. My best photographs are where I’ve caught a special moment, where someone is feeling something, and you experience that feeling through their eyes, getting a glimpse into their soul. Can typing in a few words about how we feel be enough to have an algorithm create something that represents those thoughts and feelings visually? Authentically? Left: A moment of pure joy, my dad savouring a pint in his favourite pub. Right: A friend who has lived a tough life, reflecting on that. I can see it in his eyes, they take you to his soul. These are authentic images, capturing emotion and feeling in the moment. something AI can never replace. Photographing people is the obvious place where communicating feelings and evoking emotions can be the most powerful and least effectively created by AI. But what about something like landscape photography? Many landscape photos are just pretty scenes we capture, and AI can create something similar. However, there are times when I’m in the landscape, and the location and conditions make me feel a certain way and want to communicate that through my photos. I was traveling through Spain a few years ago, in an area steeped in history and culture, where misty, rainy weather is common. I ended up with a photo that encapsulated that for me—something moody, dark, yet with a hint of positivity as the morning sun rose. Can AI create something if I use some words that describe the physical location and feelings and mood I felt at the time? I played with various prompt words, trying to describe the scene, and this (below) was the best result I could get. Does the AI version evoke as much feeling and mood as the original created from actually being there? I don’t think it’s even close. To paraphrase Johnny Rotten in the song “EMI”—just because it came into my head right now and I decided to type it—“I can’t stand those useless tools, there’s an unlimited supply (of AI). Goodbye AI, goodbyyyyyeeee.” A question I’ve been asked a few times is, where does my creative inspiration come from? I think about creativity a lot. How do you become more creative? It’s an important topic to discuss. My biggest inspiration might be travel. Exploring the world, observing, soaking up different cultures, art, architecture, ways of life, ways of communicating. I find posters in different countries inspirational. Like a photo, a poster is a form of communication and is often very representative of the local culture. It can be a work of art in itself. How we lived during our formative years plays a huge role in how we see and what we like. It’s a good idea to use that and channel it into creative ideas. I was brought up during tough and rebellious times in England. The Sex Pistols and The Clash came onto the music scene, and the photographers who worked with them and the album art created; this all influenced my creativity and aesthetic sensitivities, and I carry this inspiration with me today. At art college, learning photography and visual communications, we put a lot of time toward studying art and design history. We analyzed the images that caught our attention, breaking down and discussing why they appealed so much. We looked at composition and how lighting was used, how these things can affect the viewer’s perception and evoke emotion. We studied classical painters to mid-20th-century designers. Being exposed to so much creativity was a massive influence. Sure, AI can analyze these painters from different eras, but it sees only form, colors, and aesthetic style. AI doesn’t see the emotions that are evoked in the art, which is the point of them. AI sees the tangible, yet the intangible is often what matters the most. Creativity needs to be fed to grow. Exploring the world—even if it’s a town local to you—and observing how people live and communicate is inspirational. Creativity comes from inspiration. Studying the best artists and photographers from history is a fantastic way to educate yourself about creativity. My advice is to go to art galleries, go to the library, and dig out old art and design books to study. I strongly believe those who seek creative inspiration by venturing out into the world with an open mind and curiosity have an advantage. AI is a great research tool, and yes, it has its uses for things like cleaning up photos, cloning out unwanted objects, etc. But to create photographic art with true meaning and expression, I don’t believe AI is up to the task. The greatest art is created from life experiences and feelings, not an algorithm and search bot. What do you think—is AI important for you? Where do you get your inspiration from to feed your creativity? Simon is a professional photographer and video producer, with over 35 years experience. He spends his time between Canada and the UK. He has worked for major brands, organizations and publications; shooting travel, tourism, food, and lifestyle. For fun he enjoys black and white photography, with a penchant for street and landscapes.Arteta wanted his team to prove their European credentials following some underwhelming displays away from home, and the Gunners manager got exactly what he asked for. Goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhaes, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard got their continental campaign back on track in style following the 1-0 defeat at Inter Milan last time out. A memorable victory also ended Sporting’s unbeaten start to the season, a streak of 17 wins and one draw, the vast majority of which prompted Manchester United to prise away head coach Ruben Amorim. The Gunners had failed to win or score in their two away games in the competition so far this season, but they made a blistering start in the Portuguese capital and took the lead after only seven minutes. Declan Rice fed overlapping full-back Jurrien Timber, who curled a low cross in behind the home defence for Martinelli to finish at the far post. Arsenal doubled their lead in the 20th minute thanks to a glorious ball over the top from Thomas Partey. Saka escaped the clutches of his marker Maximiliano Araujo to beat the offside trap and poke the ball past advancing goalkeeper Franco Israel for Havertz to tap home. It was a scintillating first-half display which completely overshadowed the presence of Viktor Gyokeres in Sporting’s attack. The prolific Sweden striker, formerly of Coventry, has been turning the heads of Europe’s top clubs with his 24 goals in 17 games this season – including a hat-trick against Manchester City earlier this month. But the only time he got a sniff of a run at goal after an optimistic long ball, he was marshalled out of harm’s way by Gabriel. David Raya was forced into one save, tipping a fierce Geovany Quenda drive over the crossbar. But Arsenal added a third on the stroke of half-time, Gabriel charging in to head Rice’s corner into the back of the net. Our second-half goalscorers ❤️ pic.twitter.com/aFCIMffFaK — Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 26, 2024 To rub salt in the wound, the Brazilian defender mimicked Gyokeres’ hands-over-his-face goal celebration. That may have wound Sporting up as they came out after the interval meaning business, and they pulled one back after Raya tipped Hidemasa Morita’s shot behind, with Goncalo Inacio netting at the near post from the corner. Former Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards fired over, as did Gyokeres, with Arsenal temporarily on the back foot. But when Martin Odegaard’s darting run into the area was halted by Ousmane Diomande’s foul, Saka tucked away the penalty. Substitute Trossard added the fifth with eight minutes remaining, heading in the rebound after Mikel Merino’s shot was saved, and Gyokeres’ miserable night was summed up when his late shot crashed back off the post.
BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s embassy in Lebanon suspended consular services Saturday, a day after two relatives of deposed Syrian President Bashar Assad were arrested at the Beirut airport with allegedly forged passports. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s embassy in Lebanon suspended consular services Saturday, a day after two relatives of deposed Syrian President Bashar Assad were arrested at the Beirut airport with allegedly forged passports. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s embassy in Lebanon suspended consular services Saturday, a day after two relatives of deposed Syrian President Bashar Assad were arrested at the Beirut airport with allegedly forged passports. Also on Saturday, Lebanese authorities handed over dozens of Syrians — including former officers in the Syrian army under Assad — to the new Syrian authorities after they were caught illegally entering Lebanon, a war monitor and Lebanese officials said. The embassy announced on its Facebook page that consular work was suspended “until further notice” at the order of the Syrian foreign ministry. The announcement did not give a reason for the suspension. Two Lebanese security officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said the suspension was ordered because the passports belonging to Assad’s relatives — the wife and daughter of one of his cousins — were believed to have been forged at the embassy. Assad’s uncle, Rifaat Assad — who has been indicted in Switzerland on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity — had flown out the day before on his real passport and was not stopped, the officials said. The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Saturday that 70 Syrians, including former army officers, were handed over by a Lebanese security delegation to the security forces of the new Syrian government, led by the former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS. Three Lebanese judicial officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the report. Regional countries have been quick to establish ties with Syria’s new rulers. Delegations of Libyan and Bahraini officials arrived in Damascus on Saturday on official visits. HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has largely succeeded in calming fears within and outside of Syria that his group would unleash collective punishment against communities that supported Assad’s rule or attempt to impose strict Islamic law on the country’s religious minorities. However, in recent days, sporadic clashes have broken out between the HTS-led security forces and pro-Assad armed groups. The country’s new security forces have launched a series of raids targeting officials affiliated with Assad and have set up checkpoints in areas with significant populations of the Alawite religious minority to which the former president belongs to search for weapons. There have also been ongoing tensions and clashes in northeastern Syria between Kurdish-led forces and armed groups backed by Turkey. Many Kurds have viewed the new order in Damascus, which appears to have strengthened Turkey’s hand in Syria, with anxiety. Ankara sees the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces — a key U.S. ally in the fight against the Islamic State group — as an affiliate of its sworn enemy, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which it classifies as a terrorist organization. The U.S. State Department said Saturday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had spoken with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to “discuss the latest developments in Syria.” “Secretary Blinken emphasized the need to support a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process that upholds human rights and prioritizes an inclusive and representative government,” the statement said, adding that they “also discussed the shared goal of preventing terrorism from endangering the security” of Turkey and Syria. On Saturday, hundreds of protesters convened by Kurdish women’s groups participated in a demonstration in the northeastern city of Hasaka to demand women’s rights in the new Syria. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Perishan Ramadan, a participant from Hasaka, said the new government “is worse than Bashar” and that its leaders are Islamist extremists who “don’t accept any role for women.” While the country’s new leaders have not attempted to impose Islamic dress or other conventions, it remains to be seen what role women will have in the new order and whether they will hold political or government positions. “Women must be present in the new constitution for Syria,” said Rihan Loqo, spokeswoman for the Kongra Star women’s organization. “... Women’s rights should not be ignored.” ___ Associated Press writers Hogir Abdo in Hasaka, Syria, and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed to this report. Advertisement AdvertisementMONTREAL — Canada's largest union is denouncing a statement by Quebec's labour minister, who suggested he might try to bring in legislation to give the province more power to end labour disputes. The Canadian Union of Public Employees is describing Jean Boulet as "the Grinch trying to steal the right to strike." Boulet told CBC/Radio-Canada that he's mulling changing the province's labour code to allow the government to suspend a strike or lockout and impose arbitration. The legislation would be modeled on a similar law at the federal level that has been used to end strikes at Canada's ports, railways and at Canada Post. Boulet told the outlet he's also considering expanding the province's list of essential services, which could prevent workers in some sectors from striking. His office did not respond for a request for comment. CUPE says the right to strike is protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and attempts to undermine it will be "inevitably" struck down in court. "The right to strike is a fundamental right, a cornerstone of our democracy," CUPE Quebec President Patrick Gloutney said in a news release. "Taking advantage of the holiday season to try to weaken it shows deep disdain for those who fight every day for fair working conditions." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 24, 2024. The Canadian Press
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos' usually stout defense has been rocked ever since losing second-year cornerback Riley Moss to an MCL injury against Las Vegas in Week 12. Without Moss there to capitalize on opponents shying away from star cornerback Patrick Surtain II, the Broncos (9-6) have had to largely abandon their preferred man coverage in favor of zone strategies and the results haven't been pretty. They allowed 32 points to the Cleveland Browns when former teammate Jerry Jeudy caught nine passes for a career-best 235 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown. Only Jonathan Taylor's fumble at the goal line as he was about to score a 41-yard touchdown and give Indianapolis a 20-3 lead saved the Broncos in Week 15 and allowed Denver to seize momentum and get the victory. They couldn't stop Justin Herbert , who led the Los Angeles Chargers back from a double-digit third-quarter deficit for a 34-27 win last week that prevented the Broncos from ending their eight-year playoff drought. It also put more pressure on the Broncos to win Saturday at Cincinnati, where the Bengals (7-8) cling to hopes of catching the Broncos and denying Denver a wild-card berth. Moss returned to practice last week and the Broncos will determine this week whether he’s ready to return to the field or if it’s better to keep him out until their season finale against Kansas City. But all signs point to Moss being on the field to help thwart Cincy's offense led by Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. “It's great to have him back,” Surtain said after practice Tuesday. “I mean, you talk about a guy who was playing lights-out before the injury, but to see him back out there with confidence, out there practicing, getting his mojo back, it brings a lot of confidence to the team, as well. So, it's good to see him back out there in action, for sure.” Moss has enjoyed a breakout season in Denver with 71 tackles, eight pass breakups and an interception in 12 starts. He played in 14 games as a rotation player his rookie season after recovering from core muscle surgery that relegated him to special teams and spot duty in 2023. “We were and have been super excited" about the third-round pick out of Iowa, coach Sean Payton said. "Obviously, the guy that plays opposite of Patrick is going to get a lot of business. All throughout training camp, he really rose to the occasion, battled, competed and throughout really a good portion of the season. “He’s a big reason why we were playing so well defensively,” Payton added. "The sooner the better when we can get him back in the lineup. Hopefully it can happen this weekend.” In Moss' dozen starts, the Broncos allowed 16.8 points per game. Without him, they've been allowing 26.3 points a game. Burrow and Chase pose a bigger challenge to the Broncos than Jeudy and Jameis Wiston did for Cleveland or Herbert and Ladd McConkey did for the Chargers. The medial collateral ligament is on the inside of the knee that connects the thigh bone to the shin bone. It’s one of four major ligaments that stabilize the knee and allow it to rotate. It typically takes a month to recover from an MCL sprain and the Broncos had their bye week earlier this month, meaning Moss might only have to miss three games. If the Broncos reach the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 in Hall of Famer Peyton Manning's last start, they'll likely need to have a healthy Moss opposite Surtain to have any realistic hopes of avoiding a one-and-done appearance. The Broncos got a scare when Surtain injured an ankle against Indianapolis two weeks ago and limped off the field in the closing minutes. However, he was a full-go at practice last week and had no issues against the Chargers. NOTES: The Broncos waived veteran CB Levi Wallace, who had been inactive the past two weeks after giving up several big plays to Jeudy on Dec. 2. Denver also designated RB Tyler Badie to return from a back injury he sustained against the Jets in Week 4. Payton said he hopes to sign Wallace to the practice squad if he clears waivers. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflAsk Angi: What projects should I never DIY?Location-Based Services Market to grow by USD 296.3 billion (2024-2028), driven by rising demand for navigation services; Report on AI-driven market evolution - Technavio
NoneYou could keep things simple with the new BMW 1 Series , or you could satisfy your enthusiast desires instead. BMW’s fourth-generation 1 Series hatchback brings a lot to like: two variants with two different engines, both of which are well-geared for their intended purposes, loaded with advanced interior tech, and brimming with the kind of design and build quality expected of vehicles from such a well-established European brand. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today So the only question appears to be which of the two cars in the range your should choose. Well, they’re actually quite different, and they have a huge $26,000 pricing gulf between them, so it’s rather easy to set them apart. If you want an affordable German hatch to run around in, albeit one that offers decent performance, crisp handling and can accommodate a surprising amount of people and cargo, the logical choice is the front-wheel drive 118 three-cylinder – which we’ve published a separate review of. But if you want something a little extra that delivers hot-hatch performance in the same 1 Series body, you’d go for this – the new M135 xDrive. WATCH: Alborz’s video walk-around of a German-market M135 xDrive. It has the same high-quality cabin technologies, materials and fit and finish as the 118, but adds a four-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive, so the difference is it’s properly fast. And there’s a comprehensive range of optional gear available to make it more like a full-fat 1 Series M model. Naturally, like the 118, the higher-performance M135 has a few competitors that also hail from Germany, including equivalent versions of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Audi A3 – the A35 AMG and the S3 respectively. There’s not a lot to separate them on paper, and their prices are equally competitive. We published our first review of the new 1 Series from the international launch a few months ago, and now we’ve had our first drive of the new 1er at BMW Australia’s local launch, where were able to sample both variants on roads in and around the Melbourne suburb of Dromana, providing a solid mix of road types and conditions. Is the new M135 worth the significant price premium, or are you better off keeping it simple and saving a big wad of cash by buying the 118 instead? How much does the BMW 1 Series cost? The 2025 M135 xDrive is priced at $82,500 before on-road costs – a $5900 increase over the outgoing model – while the new 118 costs ‘just’ $56,500 plus on-roads. At that price the M135 has three direct hot hatch rivals, and all of them are also German and powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine driving all four wheels via an automatic transmission. The closest-matched Merc is the A35 AMG, which for a premium ($88,500 before on-roads) offers nearly identical power outputs and, unlike the BMW, is also available in sedan form. However, note that the second-generation BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe sedan, including the similarly renewed and renamed M235 xDrive, arrives here in early 2025. In the case of Audi, the M135’s most direct competitor is the S3 Sportback at $75,400 before on-roads. Again, it has a similar engine with nearly identical outputs, all-wheel drive, and a sedan counterpart, meaning the BMW splits the difference on price. Though it’s significantly cheaper at $70,590 before on-roads, you can also compare the M135 to the Volkswagen Golf R , which again is almost nearly identical in terms of its powertrain and body configuration. To see how the BMW 1 Series stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool What is the BMW 1 Series like on the inside? The 118 and M135 are very similar inside, and that’s reflected by the similarities between our two reviews. That said, there are some tastier M-flavoured treats to be found in the M135. At first glance and without the M Sport Package Pro fitted, you’ll struggle to find any major differences between the M135 and the 118. That’s partly why you won’t be missing out on much by opting for the cheaper 1 Series, at least not on the inside. As standard, M135s are fitted with the same dual driver-oriented screens, sporty seats upholstered in either a mix of Alcantara/vegan leather – known as Veganza – or purely Veganza at no extra cost, and the same chunky leather-wrapped steering wheel as found in the 118. The subtle changes are in relation to the driving controls. Starting with the steering wheel, it’s still buttery smooth in the hands but you’ll notice a red 12 o’clock marker stitched into the top. Behind it are larger paddle shifters, which are aggressively shaped and feature unique cut-outs to signify positive and negative on each side. Adding the M Sport Package Pro takes things to the next level. The most minor change is the stitching, which on the steering wheel features the iconic blue and red M colourway. Then there are the seats, which are swapped out for aggressively racing-inspired sports buckets. They hold you in place well too, making sure you’re planted if you decide to take the M135 for a spirited drive. You’ll find more M accents on the seatbelts, while the brake calipers are now painted red and the interior ambient lighting also reflects the colours of BMW’s performance sub-brand. It’s all very nice, but it’s worth remembering those tweaks are added to an interior setup that’s already very well put together. The interior ambient lighting can also be adjusted through the 10.7-inch infotainment screen, through which most of the car’s other functions are also controlled. Unique interior presets can also be optioned at the time of purchase, which are configurable here and change the experience inside the cabin. A handful of modes are primarily presets for lighting colours and screen backgrounds, but others actively adjust things like audio and the panoramic sunroof to alter the environment for the cabin’s occupants. Silent mode, for example, closes the sunroof shade and mutes the quality audio coming from the Harman Kardon speakers, allowing you to focus on, well, driving. If optioned, there are realistically a few too many modes to figure out and select. Chances are most owners will find one they like best and stick with it, leaving the others sitting there dormant except perhaps for showing new passengers what the car can do. From a practical standpoint, the infotainment display is also where you’ll find the climate control system – with which BMW has taken an always-on approach. That means the screen displays the climate control interface at the very bottom regardless of what menu is selected above. It’s better than having to go through a menu, but we’d still prefer physical buttons because we find screen-focused climate systems to be finicky and distracting while on the move. The 1 Series in general also features a similar isolated toggle and dial, as seen in the 5 Series, to adjust air vent direction, which can be a little unintuitive until you get used to it. Using this system has allowed BMW to hide the vents in narrow slots within the dashboard itself. It’s clean in appearance as a result, but as with the 118 it’s perhaps not worth sacrificing user-friendliness in the pursuit of minimalism. Around the gear selector is the exact same array of buttons as found in the 118, which focus on functions like window demisters and driving-related modes. As expected, it’s linked directly to the infotainment screen above, which means a menu will open when a button is pressed. At least it’s not all gloss-black plastic, but that doesn’t excuse its use on the couple of buttons that are frequently touched. One of those is the button to start and stop the engine, which is integrated into the larger gear selector panel. It’s a neat place to put it but it’ll take you a moment to find when you first jump in. In a similar sense, the functions of some of the nearby buttons may not be completely obvious, which means some time with the car will be required to become fully familiar with the car. Even then we had to ask for some guidance from the BMW execs at the launch, primarily around what all the different infotainment modes do. We found the ‘Personal’ mode is the default setting, while the others – excluding Sport and Efficient – are almost entirely focused on interior aesthetics. We know choice is good, but again there’s just a bit too much going on. Still, having dedicated shortcut buttons for such menus in a place that’s easy to find and reach is always a bonus. On the centre console are two cupholders, as well as two USB-C ports and a 12V outlet. There’s also a phone-sized cubby, which doubles as a wireless charging pad. More buttons are found on the steering wheel, which – as mentioned – is exactly the same as in the 118 if you exclude the red stripe. All of its buttons are finished in durable hard plastic instead of the gloss-black alternative, and they’re all physical instead of haptic like we’ve seen in some other German cars. We’re thankful for that, because it means the 1er feels much more analogue and easy to work with. The buttons may also seem minimalist in appearance, but you’ll find their functions are all actually clearly labelled. That means the functions here – which include driver assist and infotainment controls – are easy to figure out, and unlike some of the car’s other features will not be too confusing when you first hop in. Better yet, we find the steering wheel’s edgy design elements to be quite stylish. As with the 118, the second row is surprisingly spacious. Given its hatch body though, the 1 Series will be fairly cramped when you’re at maximum five-person capacity. Average-height passengers will find there’s plenty of room all around, helped by the high roofline towards the back of the car and cut-outs in the front seatbacks. It may feel somewhat boxed-in back here, but that’s likely because of the black headlining above. That headliner and sunroof make everything feel a bit more premium, and the cozy atmosphere back here means it’s a nice place to spend time in. Rear-seat passengers can also make use of two USB-C ports and a pair of rear-facing air vents. There’s a fold-down centre armrest too, and overall the three-seat rear bench is comfortable to sit in, if a little flat. Finally, the boot offers a large, flat floor and a robust cargo cover up top. For comparison, seats-up space in the 1er is 10 litres larger than in the A-Class hatch, and exactly the same as in the A3 Sportback. BMW has fitted a fair few cargo hooks here too, but there is a pronounced loading lip between the boot opening and the floor. That’s typical of many other similarly sized hatches, though it’s not any less impractical. The lack of a spare wheel means the floor can sit lower, which means you get more cargo space. Unfortunately, BMW only provides a tyre repair kit. To top it all off, there’s a powered tailgate as standard. Everything is just as premium as in the 118, though those optional M Sport extras are well worth adding if you’re already making the jump to BMW’s fastest hatch. To see how the BMW 1 Series stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool What’s under the bonnet? You’ll find the most powerful engine of the two-car 1 Series range in the M135, and it’s capable of producing 233kW of power and 400Nm of torque, which despite being 160kg heavier than the 118 is enough for BMW claim a rapid sub-5.0-second 0-100km/h acceleration time (more than 3.5 seconds better than the 118 and it feels that quick). Its peak power output is up 8kW over the previous model (and now ahead of both the 228kW S3 and 225kW A35), though maximum torque is down by 50Nm and now matches its German foes. The engine is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (like the 118) and all-wheel drive as standard. We’re unable to provide a representative real-world fuel economy figure, as we didn’t get enough time behind the wheel of any one vehicle to properly test how efficient it would be to live with, but note that fuel bills will be pricier on a diet of 98 RON unleaded, as per the 118. To see how the BMW 1 Series stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool How does the BMW 1 Series drive? This is where the largest disparity between the M235 and the 118 lies, and the performance gap is big enough to make them feel like completely different cars on the road. While you’d be forgiven for mistaking the 118 for the M135 inside, closer inspection reveals exactly what you’re about to drive when you hop behind the wheel of this car. There’s a heightened sense of excitement, even if you’re greeted by the same M badges as seen across the BMW range. But pressing that discreet startup button reveals exactly what it is you’re dealing with. The M135-specific quad-exit exhaust gives the car much more presence via an aggressive idle, which sounds as tastefully harsh as you’d expect from a performance BMW. It’s clear the German brand wanted this car to have much more aural character, which is just one of the ways in which it sets itself apart from the comparatively tame 118. Flick the gear selector down into Drive and you’ll immediately find there’s plenty to take in, starting with all the tech going on here. First are the drive modes, which have a significant impact on how the car feels on the road. The default Personal mode provides a good compromise between performance and comfort, though you will notice how firm the suspension is straight off the bat. As you’d expect from an M-badged BMW, the suspension is firm enough to keep body roll well in check, yet it’s still surprisingly compliant over difficult bumps. Switching to Efficient mode will dramatically cut power, while also dulling the throttle response in an attempt to save fuel. The steering remains light in both modes, which aids manoeuvrability around town. But the real deal of the M135 is its Sport mode, which is when everything gets turned up to 11. The exhaust becomes louder, steering heavier, and the suspension stiffer, setting the car up for some properly fast driving. Its displays reflect these modes too, with the colours and amount of information presented on the digital instrument cluster adapting accordingly. Hitting the open road with Sport mode engaged is a lot of fun. Put your foot into the throttle and that 2.0-litre turbo four opens right up, with an appropriately loud exhaust note to match – even if it may be partly fake. Throw it into a turn and you’ll feel just how well it sticks to the road. Even on the tightest bends we struggled to induce any serious understeer, and planting your right foot out of a turn won’t spin the wheels thanks to its AWD traction. While the standard Sport mode will automatically shift the transmission into its own sport setting by default, the M135 has no issue letting you take control yourself via the paddle shifters, when the shifts are fast and responsive – and complemented by a unique feature on the head-up display. When in Sport mode and shifting manually, the head-up display shows a shift indicator when you get close to redline, like the old-school gauges in previous M-cars. The lights that climb from yellow to orange and finally to red are a racy addition, and it all adds to the experience when you’re throwing the car around. Naturally, the engine has a surprising amount of poke in it’s most aggressive mode. Though there has been a 50Nm reduction in torque, it never feels like M135 is hanging around and there’s always plenty of twist on tap. In normal driving it may take a second for the transmission to kick down for optimum power, but Sport mode does well to keep the engine in its ideal range. But if you’re just cruising and need a quick boost of power, BMW has thought of that too. As in the 118, holding the left paddle for a second or two will engage Boost mode, which provides 10 seconds of full power regardless of the drive mode selected, making it easier to overtake slower traffic thanks to a quick acceleration hit. Despite its somewhat unassuming face, BMW has successfully managed to apply its ‘driver’s car’ ethos to the M135 xDrive without ruining its everyday appeal, and it’s impressive just how fun it can be on the right road. Of course, most won’t buy this car just to throw it around a mountain road or racetrack, so it’s pleasing it’s also such an easy car to live with on a daily basis. Without the M Sport Package Pro you still get sporty seats, but they remain well within the realms of liveability. That means on rough roads or during the typical commute, you won’t be sore by the time you get to your destination. As mentioned, the suspension does a good job of ironing out major bumps even if it is very much on the firm side, and we found that its ride quality helps boost confidence even in normal driving. A downside may be that the dual-clutch transmission is a little hesitant at low speeds, but it’s by no means difficult to manage. Of course, that trait is typical of such transmissions anyway, and its application in the 1 Series feels much more polished than it does in some of the alternatives. On the tech side, there’s also plenty to like. Though there is wireless smartphone mirroring, BMW’s native software is pretty clever and easy to use. If you engage the native navigation, some interesting things happen immediately. Of course, the maps appear on the central screen and head-up display, but BMW has also cleverly integrated the car’s front facing cameras. An augmented reality display will automatically appear on the infotainment screen, which shows the view out the front of the car while adding digital arrows to show you exactly where you need to go. It’s a fun novelty when you first see it, but likely won’t be something you use all the time. The camera view takes up a significant portion of the map as well, but it can quickly be turned off if you’d rather do it the old fashioned way. Thankfully, driver assist systems like adaptive cruise control and lane centring all work reliably, and even the driver monitoring function didn’t get in the way while on the road. Another thing that can be easily turned off is the speed limit warning, because the M135 suffers from the same annoying beeps as the 118. It’ll beep when you first exceed the limit by any amount, and then beep again when your speed changes by even 1km/h. Its volume and tone aren’t nearly as intrusive as in some other cars, but they quickly become grating. Unfortunately, just keeping up with traffic will often see the speedo reading higher than your actual speed, so a quick dive through the infotainment menus is the easiest way around its warning. Diving through those menus isn’t as simple as it is in the 118 though. There are loads more screens to flick through and many more settings that can be changed because of those optional extras, which makes things overwhelming if you’re looking through it for the first time. For that reason it pays to take a moment to have a look through the multimedia system before you hit the road, because unless you have a passenger it won’t be easy to identify everything while you’re moving. That said, after a while many owners may appreciate the level of choice available. The modes are easy enough to navigate once you’re used to the car, and the minimalist approach to physical controls never really gets in the way of making the car do what you want it to do. Overall, we were pleasantly surprised with the M135 xDrive’s on-road performance. It’s just as fast as you’d like it to be, thanks to an engine that’s as great as its chassis, forming a combination that’s deeply rewarding when you drive it aggressively and access its limits. While it may ride and handle a lot like the 118, the increase in power makes this car a much more complete package. Indeed, ride quality and dynamics are the highlights of the M135, even if it is geared more towards the latter. We could just do without those speed limit warnings, and perhaps a pruning of the driving-related menus. To see how the BMW 1 Series stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool What do you get? The 2025 BMW 1 Series range is available in two variants, and the top-spec M135 xDrive is as good as it gets in terms of standard tech. If you can spring for the M Sport Package Pro, you’ll bring the new 1er as close as possible to the full-fat ‘M1’ that BMW will never build. 2025 BMW 118 equipment highlights: M135 xDrive adds: The optional M Sport Package Pro ($2700) adds: Is the BMW 1 Series safe? The 2025 BMW 1 Series has yet to be assessed by ANCAP or Euro NCAP. Standard safety equipment on the 118 includes: The M135 xDrive adds: How much does the BMW 1 Series cost to run? The BMW 1 Series range is covered by the German brand’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. BMW offers a five-year, 80,000km Service Inclusive Basic package for the 1 Series, which costs $2210 as per the 2 Series . To see how the BMW 1 Series stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool CarExpert’s Take on the BMW M135 xDrive The new BMW 118 is good, but the M135 should be high on the list for any European hot hatch enthusiast. Sure, its price may be higher than some of its non-European alternatives, but against its immediate rivals it’s right where it needs to be. It backs up its price with upmarket interior presentation, ergonomics and build quality, as well as a plethora of advanced tech as standard. What is disappointing is the fact you need to pay extra for the M Sport Package Pro goodies to really separate this from the 118, but the M135’s standard spec is still nothing to sneeze at. But all that is forgotten when you hit the road, where the bristling turbo four slams down exceptional performance, and its sharp chassis setup is plenty capable of maximising every ounce of it in the bends, even if it eschews the rear-drive layout for which BMW was famous. However, the M135 is just as well suited to the weekday grind, where its practical yet compact five-door body, premium high-tech interior and well-sorted ride may well be the icing on the cake. Of course it isn’t all perfect, because there’s almost a dizzying amount of settings and menus to wrap your head around. A lot of it is optional, but we’d forgive you for not being able to figure it all out on your own. The speed limit warning is annoying too, and it’s not made any better by the fact you have to trawl through those menus to turn it off. You’d get used to it if you lived with the car though, but some more physical buttons for such shortcuts would go a long way in tightening up the experience. Nevertheless, we’re very impressed with the M135. It offers everything you’d need in a performance-oriented hatch while carrying BMW’s exceptional standards for quality and driver experience – partly helped by the fact some of the competition has lost its way in recent years. If you can get over the price and optional extras, the new performance 1er is undoubtedly worthy of your time. Interested in buying a BMW 1 Series? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here MORE: Everything BMW 1 Series Pros Cons Top Line Specs
