Pricing and specifications for the 128ti are out now on the UK website and an initial look through, comparing to the Golf 8 GTI prices/specs, seems to suggest the pricing is being put at a directly competitive level...
Both have low/mid £30's base prices... and are getting into the high £30's (even low £40's) if you put a spec on them (VW looking for over £2k for leather and electric seat)...
Be interesting to see how liked the BMW is when the initial owners start reporting on their cars...
(edit to add: apologies, just seen much of this already posted in separate thread... my bad. )