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

[NarutoRamen]

Deutsch, those CS1 lights would've been much better than what's on now. Plus Klier is right, the rear would've been better if the tail was split in 2 instead of 1 piece.

Naruto, we seem to be agreeing a lot lately hehehehe

That's a good thing mate.

 

[Zafiro]

I like the new M-Pack!

About the car now...I don't 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.

Ok, you and me might be a little baised here but I agree with you on the 3dr however I will wait for official photos before I judge the new 1er Coupé. Those photos we see are small and blurry.

 

[Osnabrueck]

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

I am happy about the beltline and rocker panels of the CS1 concept finally coming to light. There is a bit more genius in the CS1's front fender - how it accentuates the sharpness of the beltline - but overall I think the 1er Coupe's midsection is brilliant.

If I'd have to sum up the 1er's rear in one word, it would be... Safe. Ever since the E90, the BangleDonk design complex has been spitting out crowd pleasers - mostly to good effect. Gone is the shock and awe. Gone is the brazen inventiveness of it all - but also gone are the words "controversial" from virtually every Edmunds and R&T article. There was a challenge to the E65, E60 & Z4 that would be at home on a car like this, especially since the radical behavior of BMW design has been largely embraced by the motoring public, even regarded as desirable.

I didn't like the E92's rear lights. In fact, I was really turned off at first. Maybe I'll warm up to this, as I often have in the past. Giving the lights the benefit of the doubt - they do serve to make the car's boot look lower than it is. The rear of this car could have easily come off looking tall and stubby, which would have screamed "econo-compact."

Still wish that the front section was a complete overhaul of the current 1er's mug. Given the volume this car would be doing in the states I'd almost think that there would be a business case for that.

So I wonder - When the 1er hatch gets a complete redesign 3 years from now, will the 1er coupe be following suit? Or will the 1er Coupe forever be the "4 years behind BMW" still plodding on with an aged platform? Pretty lame if you think about prospect of this car still being sold in 2013 with what will then be a cabin that's essentially 10 years old!

 

[siko]

First impressions are not good... the car looks great until the rear is seen, then all goes down hill for me.

I hope IRL it is better... or that other pics will convince me otherwise, but right now I'm seriously dissapointed.

 

[Deutsch]

Still holding my tongue, but I will say that there are/were a lot of high hopes for this car.

 

[Zafiro]

Is this the only version the Americans are getting? 3dr or 5dr wont be available over there?

 

[SDNR]

The rear is disappointing .....are we sure this is the final design?

 

[PanterroR]

That's the real deal, Rob...

 

[Zafiro]

Huck. from Autobild was spot on.

 

[PanterroR]

Again...

 

[SDNR]

I guess I'll get used to the rear.


My verdict: I think it's terrific. This car really is about function, simplicity, and modesty -- just like the 2002 was.



When I was about 10 (early to mid 1980s) my best friend's mother had a 2002 -- it was an old car then of course, but I always liked it -- it was so German, totally practical and pragmatic. This new 1er coupé gives me a similar feeling -- so I love it

 

[Osnabrueck]

The rear is disappointing .....are we sure this is the final design?

You better believe it.

 

[El Zorro]

I was hoping for a much more involving design for the rear
The rear lights should have been splitted, like Klier pointed out.
Even the Huckfeldt impression looks better...

On the other hand, I think the car will look better in blue or in a dark
color...

 

[Osnabrueck]

Huck. from Autobild was spot on.

Good going Huck! Real thing looks better becasue you don't get the impression of a large flat surface on the boot.

 

[SDNR]

I see even in the Huck illustration there is a 2002 in the background -- this makes me sure that the 1er was intended to be a similar type of "basic" vehicle.

 

[Osnabrueck]

I guess I'll get used to the rear.


My verdict: I think it's terrific. This car really is about function, simplicity, and modesty -- just like the 2002 was.

When I was about 10 (early to mid 1980s) my best friend's mother had a 2002 -- it was an old car then of course, but I always liked the pure pragmatism of it -- it was so German. This new 1er coupé gives me a similar feeling -- so I love it

Yet we know that this is the spawn of modern-day BMW - a company that's guided by more industry-leading profit margins than German pragmatism. Modesty also left the building about 6 years ago. If we take the 130i 3/5 door as a working example, it's easy to see that the bang for the buck ratio will be far too steep to engender a grass-roots enthusiast base.

At around what I can only guess will be an out the door price of around $32-36k, the 135 Coupe will quickly draw halfway legitimate comparisons with the G37 and the IS350. Unless dynamic performance is reeeeaaallllyyyy good, we're going to end up with an Edmunds review that reads something like this:

PROS: Superb dynamic performance, silky-smooth engine, tons of power on tap, easy access to BMW roundel"

CONS: Rear seat and boot space are limited, steep price of options quickly eliminates entry-level value proposition.

THE BOTTOM LINE: The world's best driving subcompact comes at a price that's less than compact.

 

[SDNR]

CRASH!!


you know what that was Josh?

...................that was you smashing my delusions


Yeah I know I don't always view things in the real world ......you are almost certainly correct in your evaluation above -- I guess I just let my heart and sentimentality influence my point of view too much sometimes.

 

[CorpusCallosum]

Shes nice... could have been nicer

I prefer the kidney grills that are attached to the actual bonnet ei X5 or 7 series compared to the detachment.. it looks cleaner and more stylish to me???

although i do prefer now the new cs concept grill... i think the 1 series could use a few cs styling cues such as tail lights and headlights to make a more dynamic style... a modern day, flame surfaced 2002

dream car anyone?

 

[Osnabrueck]

Bottom line - it's not the prerogative of modern-day BMW to give you a bang for your buck. The whole structure of their product range is "You're gonna pay for speed, and it's worth aspiring to."

We'd all like to think that, somewhere deep inside of BMW HQ, there's a high-level exec scratching his chin saying "Let's roll out a car for the fans. One that delivers the awesome BMW performance in a compact, affordable no-BS kind of package like the old 2002." Unfortunately for us, this guy doesn't exist. Instead, what we have is a BOD that understands that BMW's room and leverage to create an entry-level product that repurposes existing assets and creates low-hanging fruit that can turn a healthy profit.

In fantasyland, BMW would benevolently forego the extraordinary profits they eke from their products for the sake of warming the hearts of fans everywhere. What we're really gonna get is a car that would be great, if only the sticker was reduced by about $4,000.

 

[EnI]

Guys, BMW Group are a premium car maker. Meaning: do not expect affordable cars from BMW Group.

Being premium is a key of their success.

....

OK, 135i coupe ...

Why so much bitching about the rear? The lights from CS1 concept were used on Z4, so 1er copue/cabrio has to get something different.

Also: the rear looks much nicer IRL. The surfaces are more dynamic than seen on the pics where creases on the rear are not clearly seen (creases are also a reason why "135i" badge is position so much towards centre, and not more to the right). 3rd brake light strip is also barely visible in the latest scoop pics. It is positioned just above BMW badge (due the 3rd break light the badge is positioned so low), below integrated spoiler lip.

With all the details visible, and wearing some other color than red, and especially with rear position lights on (Celis LED) the car looks very sharp from the behind. Yet very elegant - very nice touch for such a small coupe.

1-piece tail lights looks much better IRL - IMO 2-piece configuration would distort rears composition. With 1-piece clusters the rear appears much more homogeneous & sharp.

Wait till official pics .. or even better: wait to see the car IRL. As we know current BMWs are not very photogenic.