German Car Forum

It can’t be named M1

This is going to be the ultimate sports-hatch by packing an extra 50+ bhp over the current BMW 130 or VW Golf R32.
Munich would love to call the car M1, but that would take away the glory from the legendary late 1970’s M1 supercar, so the range-topping 1-Series will have to do with a 135ti badge on the rear, hinting to the sophisticated 3.0-litre turbo engine delivering no less than 306 bhp!
It’s just been presented in the 3-Series coupe and should be able to turn the 1-Series into a real cannon ball on wheels.

More pictures

Source = WCF

They should just get over it and call it M1.

It not like BMW can ever call another supercar M1 anymore.....

And I hope the 135ti will have one exhaust on each side like the 335i, and not like this:

They can call it something else? M1Series Super Fast Car Special Black Edition

That is going to be a seriously FAST car. Now only if they made the 1 series LOOK a lot better......

I think those are 1er prototypes featuring I4 turbo (labeled 120si or 123i) ...

If they don t put a LSD in the options list the 135ti power is useless.

Very true. How much will this car cost?

As much as I want an LSD on the car, I do't think it's gonna happen. BMW reserve that technology for M cars.

I'm with Eni on this one, I think it's a 4 pot engine. I can't see BMW putting such a large engine without affecting weight distribution. Plus I would also expect to to see exhausts similiar to the 335i

I am not convinced that this is a 135ti.

mostly bmw doesn t put it top of line engine from a higher series into a lower series.

And also if bmw put in the 3.5ti engine an M model is out the question for good. That makes me cry a little bit.

There are also a lot of rumour that the 3 door version will be the coupe. Is there more news.

Do we really get a get a coupe next to the 3 doors and the 5 doors version.

I only have seen spy pics of the cabrio.

There will be a 2dr coupe beside 2dr softtop cabrio - but apparently coming few month after cabrio (cabrio Spring 2007, coupe Fall 2007). Both will be priced higher than 1er hatches.

3dr 1er hatch coming even sooner (PR till the end of the year), and having lower price than 5dr version with same engines.

Mind that coupe & cabrio are aiming more to US market, while 1er hatch (5dr & 3dr) are more Europe oriented in first place. US will get no 1er, while 2er will be offered in Europe as well.

135i could come since there will be no M1 - BMW will compensate that with regular 135i with sport package. But do not ask me when, since I have no idea about its market launch. Also depends on competition (RS3, Golf R36, new MB Sportcoupe AMG) ...

Most 2er coupe chasis parts are tested in 3dr hatch mules right now. Cabrio has different setup (different solutions to get the torsional rigidity right), plus the roof had to be tested extensively. 2er coupe prototypes will be out with their original bodies soon. Right now there are only few of them - camouflaged as cabrios (mimicing canvas roof). Both of them still heavy masked but cabrio will enter FEP phases in a few weeks loosing the heavy camo and exposing its sexy body.

Will be there an M2 ?

Right now the project is again in "business evaluation" phase - basicly meaning "on hold". A lot of significant decisions will be made by BoD this Fall ... M2 could be one of them.

Any news on the look of the 3 door 1 series? Will it look the same as the 5 door one?

Eni, do you know the reason for this?

Because usa gets no hatchback 1er.

The usa gets the 2 door coupe.

Because US market rejects luxury hatches. BMW Group have been represented with a hatch in US market already: MINI Cooper. But for MINI hatch shape works just fine, for BMW doesn't. Because these two brands have different image.

Therefore US market will get 2er cabrio and coupe (both 2dr) only, but no hatches - neither 5dr nor upcoming 3dr. Hatches are more popular in Europe: therfore 1er in hatch shape.

But in the future when first the 5er will be "repositioned": evolving in kind a more coupeish sedan (but not a radical 4dr coupe like MB CLS: new 5er will still have enough room for 5 persons, but the shape will be coupeish), the next 3er will grow in size taking 5er's position of a large classic sedan. Then a room for a smaller sedan will emerge: a Mk2 1er sedan - which will be sold in US as well. Also the Mk2 hatches are planned to be different in shape: 3dr more sporty, 5dr more utilitarian (like e.g. Opel Astra, or Audi A3). In this case there is a possibility 5dr hatch can also come to US.

Possible other 1er platform variants (Z2, X2, etc) will be also reconsidered form Mk2. As I said before: in late fall many significant decisions about future BMW project will be decided by BMW AG Board of Directors ... 1er / 2er variants included.

Enilab-

Is there any reason why the 2dr cabrio is being released BEFORE the coupe? That seems at odds with common logic...TIA

Thanks, Eni. I thought the 1er would be a great add for the line-up in the US market but if hatches don't sell there it's logical to leave it out.
Still I would have loved to see the 1-series in the NA market...

Yes, it's very uncommoun for BMW, but since both cars will be ready in Spring 2007 marketing dept. decided to launch Cabrio first: to offer it right in the begining of Summer 2007, and not in Fall - like it was common at BMW.

It sounds more logical, doesn't it. To launc cabrio just before Summer when cabrio season begins, and not before Winter when the cabrio market is almost dead.


Wait to see 2er coupe (or even cabrio) and your lust for 1er hatch will be gone.

Eni

when can we expect the first spy pics of 2er coupe. all we see are cabrio pics or coupe pics with cabrio fake roofs.

Lots of talk going on that the 3 door hatch will be coupe.

I hope soon - like I told you: cabrio will be launched first + more development work due different chassis / body solutions than coupe + more development work due folding roof.

Coupe will need less final development time since it will have almost identical body & chassis solutions to 3dr hatch: right now almost all the tests for coupe solutions are performed in a 3dr hatch prototypes. Coupe will get its original body panels in FEP phases.


Wrong. There will be 3dr 1er hatch (beside 5dr) AND 2dr 2er coupe (and cabrio). I guess the rumours of upcoming small coupe, the lack of coupe prototypes on the roads, and information that 3dr hatch have coupe's chais & body solutions make some people think that 1er 3dr hatch = coupe. But this is not the case.

Most mags also have wrong info on 2er cabrio: most think it will be bagded as 1er. It won't. It will wear 2er badge. Also the unknown shift: offering cabrio before coupe also makes people believe there will be no coupe, just a 3dr 1er hatch. Also most mags are wrong about the 2er cabrio launch: it won't come in Spring 2008 like many mags says, but much earlier - in late Spring / early Summer 2007.

It s so quit here or maybe it quit before the storm. Lets hope so.

very interesting info..

BTW, it could be named M135(ti), like the first car with an M badge, the M535...

This is not even a Mcar, it simply has the 3.0L turbo engine with a lot of power for what it is...
I really thought the 130i would be the range topping model, BMW used to go in steps, like the 330 was top model, then 545 was top 5er model etc...
now we're having a common engine for teh 1er and 3er flagship..

hint, 335 Si.

But a 235 Ti would be nice.