~ ~ 1-Series: Official Pics ~ ~
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pug poo picker-upper
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Originally posted by Gabe:
2 door BMWs will have even number designations and 4 door BMWs will have odd. Thus the 2 door 3 series becomes the 4 series etc.
The 2 series is the proposed 2 door version of the one series. There is talk of this possibly coming to the US in several years.
2 door BMWs will have even number designations and 4 door BMWs will have odd. Thus the 2 door 3 series becomes the 4 series etc.
The 2 series is the proposed 2 door version of the one series. There is talk of this possibly coming to the US in several years.
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pug poo picker-upper
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From Autoweek
Autoweek: Is BMW rethinking its plan to bring the 1 Series to the United States?
Tom Purves:
No. We used the Mini brand in order to ensure that BMW was represented in the small-car segment. You have to have a package with front-wheel drive to seat four people. And if you have a front-wheel-drive car, it can't be a BMW. What better brand than Mini?
The 1 Series is a rear-wheel-drive car, which takes us back to the original size of the BMW 2002. The 3 Series has grown up. The 1 Series takes us back to where we were when we generated the sports sedan that became synonymous with BMW success. As a front-engine rear-wheel-drive car, it has excellent handling and dynamics. And it will appeal to a younger group of people who are looking for that type of car. That's a different group and mind-set than the Mini group.
Autoweek: Is BMW rethinking its plan to bring the 1 Series to the United States?
Tom Purves:
No. We used the Mini brand in order to ensure that BMW was represented in the small-car segment. You have to have a package with front-wheel drive to seat four people. And if you have a front-wheel-drive car, it can't be a BMW. What better brand than Mini?
The 1 Series is a rear-wheel-drive car, which takes us back to the original size of the BMW 2002. The 3 Series has grown up. The 1 Series takes us back to where we were when we generated the sports sedan that became synonymous with BMW success. As a front-engine rear-wheel-drive car, it has excellent handling and dynamics. And it will appeal to a younger group of people who are looking for that type of car. That's a different group and mind-set than the Mini group.
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A bit annoying how ole' Tom downplays the historical relevance of MINI, instead bastardizing the name into some random platform they created to fill a hole their vehicular portfolio.
agreed Dave, looks like Tom had a bad day phrasing things appropriately.
agreed Dave, looks like Tom had a bad day phrasing things appropriately.
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Chicago
I've been recently reading in several magazines that BMW, at the last possible second mind you, has decided to drop the even number series for 2 doors and odd number series for 4 doors naming convention. So it sounds like we won't see a 4 series (it'll just be the 2 door 3 series as it is now) and the 2 series coupe may now be called the 1 series. Or not 
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pug poo picker-upper
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What I'd like to see is an ///M3 (4-door) and an ///M4 (2-door). This would be a return to the E36 days when the ///M3 came in both a 2-door and 4-door version.
I think BMW loses customers to the Audi S4, which even though it may not be quite the performer that the ///M3 is, it does have four door functionality AND there is always the S4 Avant.
I think BMW loses customers to the Audi S4, which even though it may not be quite the performer that the ///M3 is, it does have four door functionality AND there is always the S4 Avant.
so based upon Gabe's latest info scoop - are they going to rename the 6 series? Oh wait, there was a 6 series once upon a time when BMW had a clue
I too would've liked to see the 220i and //M4. Now we'll be continuing the lineage of 120Ci and //M3-2
I too would've liked to see the 220i and //M4. Now we'll be continuing the lineage of 120Ci and //M3-2
6th Gear
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From: Chicago
Originally Posted by sambusik
Yep, just read in Automobile that the next M3 will still be called the M3, not the M4.
IMO, the M3 name has so much recognition, it would have been pretty ******* to change it.
IMO, the M3 name has so much recognition, it would have been pretty ******* to change it.
6th Gear
Joined: May 2003
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From: Virginia Beach, Virginia
"... MINI sells because Americans don't know it's a hatchback, Purves said. ..."
Gollygeewhiz I sure do wish they'd make that big steel panel on the back of my MINI operable! Gosh that would be soooo convenient, its just so hard getting to the boot space thru those rear seats...
Gollygeewhiz I sure do wish they'd make that big steel panel on the back of my MINI operable! Gosh that would be soooo convenient, its just so hard getting to the boot space thru those rear seats...
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pug poo picker-upper
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Right now, (Gabe correct me if I'm wrong), BMW hasn't even made an official decision about whether to bring the 1-series to the U.S.
If it does, from what I've read, the 5-door would not be in the cards, but the 3-door (hatchback) would be. If it comes, most of the speculation has it that the U.S. would only get 6-cylinder variants, and not the 4-cylinder (120i).
To my knowledge, no official pictures of the 3-door have been released. Also, to my knowledge no 6 cylinder 5-doors have been released.
So to make a long story short, the future of the 1-series in the U.S. is murky, but it's Audi competition (the A3 sportback) is confirmed by AudiUSA as going on sale in MAY 2005 (FWD 200 HP 2.0 turbo at first, to be followed by the quattro models and the 250 HP VR6 models).
It looks like my next car could be an A3 Sportback (VR6 Quattro DSG), but the 1-er could still make the cut if BMWUSA pulls their heads out and makes the call the bring the 1-series here.
If it does, from what I've read, the 5-door would not be in the cards, but the 3-door (hatchback) would be. If it comes, most of the speculation has it that the U.S. would only get 6-cylinder variants, and not the 4-cylinder (120i).
To my knowledge, no official pictures of the 3-door have been released. Also, to my knowledge no 6 cylinder 5-doors have been released.
So to make a long story short, the future of the 1-series in the U.S. is murky, but it's Audi competition (the A3 sportback) is confirmed by AudiUSA as going on sale in MAY 2005 (FWD 200 HP 2.0 turbo at first, to be followed by the quattro models and the 250 HP VR6 models).
It looks like my next car could be an A3 Sportback (VR6 Quattro DSG), but the 1-er could still make the cut if BMWUSA pulls their heads out and makes the call the bring the 1-series here.
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,620
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From: Chicago
Originally Posted by DiD
Right now, (Gabe correct me if I'm wrong), BMW hasn't even made an official decision about whether to bring the 1-series to the U.S.
If it does, from what I've read, the 5-door would not be in the cards, but the 3-door (hatchback) would be. If it comes, most of the speculation has it that the U.S. would only get 6-cylinder variants, and not the 4-cylinder (120i).
To my knowledge, no official pictures of the 3-door have been released. Also, to my knowledge no 6 cylinder 5-doors have been released.
So to make a long story short, the future of the 1-series in the U.S. is murky, but it's Audi competition (the A3 sportback) is confirmed by AudiUSA as going on sale in MAY 2005 (FWD 200 HP 2.0 turbo at first, to be followed by the quattro models and the 250 HP VR6 models).
It looks like my next car could be an A3 Sportback (VR6 Quattro DSG), but the 1-er could still make the cut if BMWUSA pulls their heads out and makes the call the bring the 1-series here.
If it does, from what I've read, the 5-door would not be in the cards, but the 3-door (hatchback) would be. If it comes, most of the speculation has it that the U.S. would only get 6-cylinder variants, and not the 4-cylinder (120i).
To my knowledge, no official pictures of the 3-door have been released. Also, to my knowledge no 6 cylinder 5-doors have been released.
So to make a long story short, the future of the 1-series in the U.S. is murky, but it's Audi competition (the A3 sportback) is confirmed by AudiUSA as going on sale in MAY 2005 (FWD 200 HP 2.0 turbo at first, to be followed by the quattro models and the 250 HP VR6 models).
It looks like my next car could be an A3 Sportback (VR6 Quattro DSG), but the 1-er could still make the cut if BMWUSA pulls their heads out and makes the call the bring the 1-series here.
I've heard that they'd be looking at bringing the 2 door coupe (not a hatch) and a 4 door sedan. It's all very dissapointing and very short sighted by BMW - which is a bit unusual for them. I woudn't be too surprised to see a change of heart if the A3 does well but any version of the 1er would still be at least 2-3 years out for the US
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Chicago
Originally Posted by DiD
It would be nice if they came in some other colors too.
It looks like: Blue, Pure Silver, a Dark Silver, and Black so far.
It looks like: Blue, Pure Silver, a Dark Silver, and Black so far.
Here's the color tag's: (from the UK brochure):
For the whole Brochure: http://cgi.thehanlons.plus.com/viewtopic.php?t=144
For the whole Brochure: http://cgi.thehanlons.plus.com/viewtopic.php?t=144