2012 BMW 1-Series F20

What would the 2011 Essen Motor Show be without the participation of some of Germany’s homegrown tuning companies?Fortunately, we won’t have to answer that question because at least one of those tuning companies will on-hand to present their new tuning programs. BMW tuner extraordinaire, AC Schnitzer, has prepared a couple of cars for Essen, with one being a modified 1-Series F20 hatchback. Coming to the party packed with styling and performance upgrades, AC Schnitzer’s "ACS1" program certainly belongs on the big stages of Essen.The exterior and interior of the car were both given some fancy dress-ups. For the former, the changes include the addition of a new front apron and a new roof spoiler to go along with some special graphics on the sides of the car and a choice of either 18" or 19" alloy wheels. Meanwhile, the interior of the 1-Series F20 received a bespoke gear knob that comes with or without a digital gear display, aluminum pedals, a new handbrake handle, custom floor mats, and an aluminum cover for the i-Drive system, among other things.The ACS1’s performance package didn’t disappoint either. Before we dive into the power kits for the 118d and 120d models, it’s important to share that AC Schnitzer added a lowered sports suspension kit and a new exhaust system with chromed tail pipes to the performance program. As for the aforementioned power kits, which included an ECU remap, the German tuner managed to bump the output of the 118d from 143 horsepower to 171 horsepower while the 120d gets an equally impressive spike, from 184 horsepower all the way up to 210 horsepower.