1 Series will be a purist, enthusiast-oriented car
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,129
Likes: 0
From: Philly
1 Series will be a purist, enthusiast-oriented car
http://autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?...05003/1530/FREE
Sounds pretty good... But can they deliver an model that moves back towards BMW's driving purist roots at a reasonable price?
Andrew
Back to Basics
BMW promises motoring performance for purists with new 1 series
By RICK KRANZ | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS
AutoWeek | Updated: 06/05/07, 8:56 am et
DEATH VALLEY, Calif. -- BMW wants the upcoming 1 series to lure enthusiasts back into the fold.
The automaker identifies this group as former BMW owners who abandoned the brand because the 3 series got too big and too luxurious over the past 20 years.
"There are people who always loved BMW but, to be honest, loved some of the older stuff more because, for them, it was smaller, more compact, more pure," said Rich Brekus, general manager of product planning and strategy at BMW of North America LLC.
Brekus said a group of former 3-series owners who had cars in the 1980s and early 1990s fits this mind-set.
"The series has grown up, but some of them did not necessarily want the 3 series to grow up," Brekus said during a BMW event here last month. For them, "the older BMWs were more youthful."
He said the 1 series "is the purest BMW we have."
Although shorter than the 3 series, the 1 series shares some components with that model. When the 1 series goes on sale next year in the United States, it will be BMW's entry-level line.
Brekus said ride and handling will not be sacrificed despite a price below the 3 series. The 1 series will feel and drive like a BMW, he said.
The United States will get a 1-series two-door coupe; a convertible also is expected.
BMW sells a 1-series five-door hatchback in Europe that went on sale in 2003, and it recently unveiled a three-door hatchback. BMW has said that neither hatchback will be sold here.
BMW promises motoring performance for purists with new 1 series
By RICK KRANZ | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS
AutoWeek | Updated: 06/05/07, 8:56 am et
DEATH VALLEY, Calif. -- BMW wants the upcoming 1 series to lure enthusiasts back into the fold.
The automaker identifies this group as former BMW owners who abandoned the brand because the 3 series got too big and too luxurious over the past 20 years.
"There are people who always loved BMW but, to be honest, loved some of the older stuff more because, for them, it was smaller, more compact, more pure," said Rich Brekus, general manager of product planning and strategy at BMW of North America LLC.
Brekus said a group of former 3-series owners who had cars in the 1980s and early 1990s fits this mind-set.
"The series has grown up, but some of them did not necessarily want the 3 series to grow up," Brekus said during a BMW event here last month. For them, "the older BMWs were more youthful."
He said the 1 series "is the purest BMW we have."
Although shorter than the 3 series, the 1 series shares some components with that model. When the 1 series goes on sale next year in the United States, it will be BMW's entry-level line.
Brekus said ride and handling will not be sacrificed despite a price below the 3 series. The 1 series will feel and drive like a BMW, he said.
The United States will get a 1-series two-door coupe; a convertible also is expected.
BMW sells a 1-series five-door hatchback in Europe that went on sale in 2003, and it recently unveiled a three-door hatchback. BMW has said that neither hatchback will be sold here.
Andrew
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,195
Likes: 0
From: Tampa, FL
Originally Posted by aklucsarits,Jun 5 2007, 11:12 AM
The United States will get a 1-series two-door coupe; a convertible also is expected.
BMW sells a 1-series five-door hatchback in Europe that went on sale in 2003, and it recently unveiled a three-door hatchback. BMW has said that neither hatchback will be sold here.
BMW sells a 1-series five-door hatchback in Europe that went on sale in 2003, and it recently unveiled a three-door hatchback. BMW has said that neither hatchback will be sold here.
every picture ive seen is of a 5 door hatchback or a 3 door hatchback... thats all they have in Europe... im hoping the autoweek article is wrong...
sure hope to god the "coupe" doesnt end up looking like the old 318ti and the convertible doesnt end up being a glorified PT Cruiser cabrio...
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,787
Likes: 0
From: Taipei / NYC Metro
It doesn't look bad when lowered and with nice wheels. My neighbor had one in Taipei. It was only a 120i but it was lowered and had BBS LMs on it. Looked badass. Too bad it had some problems that persisted long enough that he had to get rid of it.
I don't know if it can/should be compared to the 3-series in the 80s and 90s though. I still have my e30 that I've kept in great shape and the interior is much better than the 1-series in terms of fit/finish. The 1-series has too much plastic that makes it look "cheap".
I don't know if it can/should be compared to the 3-series in the 80s and 90s though. I still have my e30 that I've kept in great shape and the interior is much better than the 1-series in terms of fit/finish. The 1-series has too much plastic that makes it look "cheap".
