vbrep_register("3061675") 1-series coupe is almost ready ?!

Guys, sorry about the link post, but I think its news worthy. BMW is making a new small coupe for itself which is basicly a takeoff of the 1-series hatch, but now in coupe form and for the USA. Yesterday a few enthusiasts at the ring got to see the test car in person. But not the bland cladded up test car, but a test car with all but the rear masking removed, in red, and with the M-sport addons.

The link the the pictures are here: http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=480

This is most definitly worth a look, I think the car is stunning and sporty, its a step up in size from the Mini and I do think the overall packaging of this car is horrible. Ive gotten to sit in a euro spec 1-series hatch and its strange, very un BMW-like in any seat except the drivers seat. Furthermore, even though it is a step up in size from the mini and is a rear wheel drive car, I cant imagine it would do anything but cannabalize sales from the Mini.

Then again BMW knows better then I about what its doing.

 

I dunno why it would cannibalize any sales from Mini. It looks like every other BMW on the planet. If I wanted a BMW, I would have bought a BMW. The pictures are nice, but the styling is 'meh'.

The Mini is distinctive. No mistaking it for any other car on the road, and for me, that is worth alot.

 

Agreed. Just looks like a small BMW. I'll keep my MINI, thanks

 

Just a small bimmer.

Even though BMW makes Mini, doesn't mean most of us consider them to be BMW's

 

Thread moved to Off-Topic: Autos.

Now for my bit... I am very intruiged by the 1-series, especially in M form. Does it mean I'd sell my MINI? Nope. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't love a small and nimble RWD car too!

They should make a hatch version though, like a smaller version of the M-Coupe.

 

the thing reminds me of a yellow short bus....

 

Nice car for my wife,I'll be test driving.

 

Haha, Funny.

There's nothing else quite like a small RWD performance car, no doubt this car will have superb handling balance, especially compared to most other BMW's.

Against the Mini things look a little interesting, but no doubt the BMW will be the better all round performer, but full of compromises you just don't get in the MINI. Then we're being sensible, which isn't the point of any perforamnce coupe - though the MINI makes a mockery out of such an idea with it's hatchback form, stil not the most practical for size.

 

I adored my E30 325iS, this looks to be way more of a spiritual successor to that that then 325i that my wife drives.

Launch an 'M' or 135iS version with a sub $35K price tag and I will be tempted.

This is the only car that is keeping me from trading my MCS for a Z4M coupe - I want to drive this before I drop $55K on a Silver Z4M......

 

I want to be excited about this car, but it just looks so boring and predictable.

 

I have spent a lot of time on the forum posted above and read some of the details being leaked about the new 1 series coupe. A lot of people that aren't really familiar with what's going on are just assuming that this will be a "baby bimmer" sold primarily to young people that just want the BMW brand at a lower price. However, from what I have heard, BMW is very serious about this car suceeding in the U.S. and the car is being used to bring BMW back to it's roots (ie. Ultimate Driving Machine). As the 3 Series moves up market and has become heavy and more luxury-oriented, the 1 Series is meant to be a small, light, rear wheel drive coupe that is considered by some to be a successor to the 2002 and E30 M3. I think the car has attractive (but not amazing) styling, but more importantly the 135i (there will also be a 128i with the 230hp Inline 6, starting around $25k) is going to be a blast to drive with nearly 300hp, a 0-60 time easily under 6 seconds, all in a package that should be in the $30-35k range. Considering that a loaded Cooper S is in the same price range, the 1 Series is a car that I will be looking at VERY seriously as my next car.

IMO the 1 Series is a car that anyone that loves driving should at least take a look at. Will it cannabalize MINI sales? Probably not a lot, but it will be a competitor for MINI with consumers looking for a higher performace car. I think it will compete for sales with the JCW MINIs.

 

A $30K 135i Coupe with an LSD and minimal creature comforts would replace my MCS faster than it accelerates to 60.......

At $35K I'd still join the line, but I'd demand the full-on M-tech package.

I wonder if Dinan are going to bring out some tuning items for it ?

 

Someone gets it!

This car is not meant to bring first time BMW customers into the brand, that's the job of the MINI brand and BMW's CPO Vehicle program. This car is for hardcore BMW enthusiast that think that the 3er has grown too large, too heavy, too luxurious. This car is made for the Bimmer phile who remembers the character of the legendary E30 M3 and 2002 - the latter resonsible for the birth of the 3er model range. Therefore with this being top shelf performance and handling car, it's not meant for novice drivers; take one of these at speed too fast into a corner and no doubt it will snap back at you, as is the case with the current 1er offerings in Europe. The 1er is actually said to be more a drivers car than the E90 series 3 series, which is a pretty good performer. Trendy, Pop culture types will be in for a rude awakening if they ponder this cars limits, let alone if they don't find the ride from the stiffly sprung suspension uncomftarble enough already. Lastly, when it comes to 1er coupe/convertible pricing(yes, a convertible is expected) and whether or not this car will cannobalize MINI sales, BMW's distibutor pricing department will more than thake car of that: this car wll not be cheap!($25k base without popular equipment/packaging - average transaction prce will be much higher) So the barriers to entry for the BMW brand will still remain relatively high.

 

$30K . BMW is great about this, they advertise cars at such in such price, the next thing you know the car you wanted is $5k - 7k or more than you thought. This car would be intesting if they stuffed the twin turbo in it .

 

That's exactly what the 135i will have, although it will probably be slightly detuned so it won't have the 300hp that the 335i has. But that's what makes me want this car, it will be much smaller than the 335i but will probably be as fast if not faster.

 

Looks like a hyundai rear-ended an unhatched BMW. I don't think it will bleed any sales from MINI.

 

Yea I think your right, it still looks like a generic BMW, a MINI will still be a MINI . But hum ... with that twin turbo and a little more style??

 

Why would you think they would detune it? Just wondering.

 

Since the 1 Series is lighter than the 335i coupe, if they put in a full version of the twin turbo six, it would be faster. So it's merely a means of making sure the 335i is not upstaged by a model in their line up that costs at least $10k less. However, tuners will quickly find a way around it and you'll see some 1 Series coupes out there with some very serious power.

I agree with those who say the 1 Series doesn't have the most exciting styling, but I think it is a good looking car (especially with the M trim) and if the driving dynamics end up being as good as expected, I know of at least one MINI customer that will be very tempted to make the jump.

 

FYI - Some of the latest spy shots. The actual unveiling should occur within the next month or so. Again, while it is not the most exciting design its a nice looking car IMO

1coupe_2_560px.jpg

new1.jpg

 

still looks kinda bubbly and weird to me.

 

Im pretty sure BMW dropped Dinan and is going to bring out its own line of parts for the cars from now on. I don't know for sure, but its what I read on some 335i forums

 

The 1-Series is the reason I now bought a MINI
I read about the 118d a while ago and the excellent gas milage as well as the low CO2 emissions and told my wife that she is gonna get that one next year when it comes to the US. She and I both liked the design and agreed.
Then I read that they only plan to bring the high powered versions and at that point I stepped back. Then you are on gas milage as well as price in a total different area again where other cars become attractive as well.
But she wanted a car with at least a little bit of character and so we bought the one with the most .

 

Vishnu tuning already has packages for the 335i's twin-turbo V6, which bring the car up to 500 HP. So imagine the 135i, which will be lighter, with 500 HP!!!

I am excited about the 1 series, although I wish they'd bring us the hatchback 2-door that Europe currently has, as well as the sedan and coupe.

There is still this stigma with hatchbacks; people are always saying that Americans don't like hatchbacks. That may have been true many years/decades ago, but how do these people explain thee success of the MINI brand? Every MINI, (so far), has been a hatchback.

What about cars like the VW Golf/GTI? You can't say that car isn't a success, after all these decades of it thriving in the US!
And finally, why would Subaru take it's premier sports car, the WRX STI, and make it a hatchback after years of it being successful as a 4-door sedan? This is a very controversial move, the automotive press will tell you.


Because there IS a market for hatchbacks in the USA!

Now, the REAL reason BMW isn't going to bring the 1-series hatchback to the states is this: it WILL canabalize MINI sales. I know that I, for one, would very seriously consider stepping up a 1-series hatchback from my current MINI, especially if it was a 135i or M1 or something powerful.

Any car enthusiast shopping for a small hatchback with any kind of performance capabilities would be remiss if he/she did not compare the MINI to a 1-series hatchback...

So, that is my theory as to why we'll only get the coupe and sedan 1-series.

 

Big news about the 1 Series. The U.S. press release and some official photos have been leaked. We will be getting the 128i with a 230hp I-6 and the 135i with a 300hp (not detuned) twin turbo six. BMW claims the 135i will do 0-62 in 5.3 seconds and since their numbers are often understated I expect 0-60 in just under 5 seconds. They didn't announce pricing so that is still a mystery but a 135i without a lot of options should be an amazing value! I'm 90% sure this is my next car!

Check out the photos and press release here:

http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=523