1 Series [Spy Shots] BMW 1-Series coupe, part 2 (fully exposed 135i!)

[EnI]

Re: Spied: BMW 1-Series coupe

 

[DocM]

Re: Spied: BMW 1-Series coupe

thanks for the pics EnI!!

that front is off the hook.

Rear end looks still looks like some uninspired Korean car.
I expected better from BMW

 

[Deutsch]

These pics are not of the greatest quality... I will wait for better ones before I make any judgment. I will say I most certainly don't care for the wheels.

These photo's had to be leaked by BMW, much like the ones of the Clubman... interesting tactics their marketing dept. uses.

 

[Bruce]

Umm.. The rear end is absolutely awful!

 

[NarutoRamen]

Even though I'll wait for the official pics, i'll say this: The back is not as good as it should've been. I agree with Docm that it kind of looks korean ie Kia-ish.

 

[CarGuy]

The front looks very BMW but the rear has no character. But after all this is the 1er and judging it that much is just beside the point. You buy it just like you buy the Civic, to get from A to B economically and cheaply.

 

[DocM]

CarGuy, the only problem is that BMW and cheap don't go together. Even the 1 series coupe will be expensive compared to its category rivals.

 

[NarutoRamen]

Once again, I agree with DocM. This car is not going to be civic cheap. I expect this to be around the A3 range. That means it's around 25k. You can get a civic for 15.

 

[DocM]

Naruto, we seem to be agreeing a lot lately hehehehe

 

[klier]

The biggest problem imo with the rear lights is the fact that the whole unit is one piece, making it look very awkward. I much prefer the design of the E46 and E53/E70, where part of the light unit is connected to the bootlid itself.

Because it being one piece, the shape is too round too. Something like this would've maybe been better.
Decide yourself:

View attachment 4a14ab43f9343f96effde944da564a47.jpg

 

[chonkoa]

That rear looks horrible-what were they thinking?

 

[Osnabrueck]

You buy it just like you buy the Civic, to get from A to B economically and cheaply.

If what you just said was true, I would hold back my criticism of this car. However, entry level or not, this is a proper BMW Coupe and will not be selling in North America for a pittance. This isn't nor should it be the Civic of BMW's range. It's properly seen as such in Europe, but the North American situation is an entirely different story.

Just as I learned while shopping for an A3 - If you want the car you really want, you're looking at a sticker around $32k, and if you want said car with a big engine under the hood (in this case the turbo 3.0) then you can add another $4,000 to that figure.

Make no mistake, this is a huge product for North America, and this car's styling is key to its success or failure. There's a huge difference between a "Stripped-Down No-Nonsense Driver's BMW" and a "Entry-Level BMW for the Budget-Minded."

The problem I already see is that the 135i we all really want will sticker so high that you'll easily be within pissing distance of a similarly equipped 328i that, theoretically, has higher curb appeal. If this car is marketed and packaged correctly, the "curb factor" won't be an issue - however, if it's percieved as a half-asseed imitation of BMW's usual fare, the curb factor will become everything (Case in point - Look at the failure of the MB C-Hatch in North America). I'm afraid it's going to be all to easy for this car to become the entry-level poseurmobile, without the performance credentials to match.

I'm really on the fence right now. I think the car's rear looks much better in that light than it did in the first photo. On the other hand, there's too much here that's lifted directly from the 1er 3-door and 5-door. It's like I can't shake it from my head.

Since North America is loaded with "Virgin Eyes" who don't have exposure to the 1er hatch I think this car could be a hit. I'm just afraid that the pricing will be weighted to the point where the value quotient becomes difficult to swallow. The 1er must be a bang for the buck, but at the same time, priced out of reach for entry-level buyers.

 

[Deutsch]

You guys really shouldn't be getting all worked up over crappy photos. And like I said(IMO of course) the rims are crappy, there will be far better wheel options that will make for a far better look than what you see in these guerrilla marketing shots..

 

[Deutsch]

I'm afraid it's going to be all to easy for this car to become the entry-level poseurmobile, without the performance credentials to match.

This is true. But really, what are you going to do? Pepole are going to buy what they're going to buy for their reasons, which we may or may not like, which is entirely besides the point. It won't be that much different from some prissy daddies girl who has a 335i kitted out to the nines that we automotive fanboys already despise and envy her greatly for.

 

[CorpusCallosum]

dont like it one little bit atm... will wait for official picture before making my final judgement

 

[Zafiro]

Is it only me seeing the old 3er E46 when looking at the rear, particulary the shape of the rearlights:




L-shape

 

[Deutsch]

There are quite a few BMW's with the traditional L shaped headlight design, even before the E46. Do you notice how this theme is continued but upside down on most of the newer models? Pretty cool that they decided to retain that feature for the 1er coupe.

 

[CorpusCallosum]

The E46 still looks brillaint doesnt it... i have hopes for this new 1 series

BMW

 

[Deutsch]

Makes me scratch my head that BMW never used the CS1 concepts ultra cool looking tail lights....

 

[Nikos120i]

I like the new M-Pack!

About the car now...I don't know how I feel...I have to see it in flesh I guess to decide. My first thoughts, however, are not that great. I prefer the 3dr so far.