BMW announces official US plans for 1 Series

[Kirby]

BMW’S 1-series family is set to expand and the car will be launched in the US from 2007, according to company bosses. The long awaited six-cylinder 1-series, which will enable the car to be sold in the USA, is expected to be unveiled in just under 12 months at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Using the same new N52 2.5-litre in-line six-cylinder engine destined for next year’s 325i, the new 125i packs 218bhp and 184lb ft – up by 68bhp and 36lb ft on the 2.0-litre four-cylinder 120i.

This engine will also be seen in a new saloon version of the 1-series that will be launched in the US in 2007. BMW says it couldn’t launch the car with four-cylinder engines in the US as buyers there prefer the turbocharged and six-cylinder units offered by rivals such as the Audi A3 and Volvo S40. BMW also thinks American buyers will prefer the saloon format, and is shying away from launching the One in the US until the saloon arrives.

 

[Tom]

From the article...it looks like we may get the hatchback version?

 

[epj3]

From the article...it looks like we may get the hatchback version?

Thats what I took from it too.

I personally don't think this will be a BAD thing. It'll directly compete with the mercedes C130??? kompressor. I say good for them.

 

[theBMWenthusiast]

yay...the 1 is so cool!

 

[Wallie05]

No no, this is so not cool. A stateside 1 series will totally dilute the brand. Ideally, I'd like to have less Bimmer's running around, not more. It's bad enough there's a 3er on every corner, but now a 1 series? Damn. Furthermore, it's not even really that great looking of a car.....


Edit: Oh btw, the Audi A3 isn't even out yet in the US, so how can US buyers prefer something that they can't eveny buy?? And last I read (autospies if I remember correctly??) there's still some skepticism about how well it be received, given that there are plenty of complaints about the A4s already small portions.

 

[epj3]

No no, this is so not cool. A stateside 1 series will totally dilute the brand. Ideally, I'd like to have less Bimmer's running around, not more. It's bad enough there's a 3er on every corner, but now a 1 series? Damn. Furthermore, it's not even really that great looking of a car.....


Edit: Oh btw, the Audi A3 isn't even out yet in the US, so how can US buyers prefer something that they can't eveny buy?? And last I read (autospies if I remember correctly??) there's still some skepticism about how well it be received, given that there are plenty of complaints about the A4s already small portions.

The reason you see 3 series on every corner is beucase people buy them for their spouses, or they buy them just to get the lowest model 3 series. Basically - people will buy their spouses a 1 series now, becuase its cheaper!!

 

[Section_8]

The reason you see 3 series on every corner is beucase people buy them for their spouses, or they buy them just to get the lowest model 3 series. Basically - people will buy their spouses a 1 series now, becuase its cheaper!!

No kidding, this is GREAT news to me. I've been shopping the X3 market for my wife, but I will gladly put her in a 1 series hatch! Some market battling with MB's hatch finally.. I see alot of those around here, mostly women. (The car MB guys get for their wife??)

Just a little longer wait..


Wallie I'm not sure of what point you are making about 'diluting the brand'? More BMW's on the road is a bad thing? The 1 series (just because 1 is less then 3, yeesh) is still a BMW, they don't slap the badge on it for nothing. If anything, more 1's will mean less 3's, making our car's rarer on the road..

Or are you saying that 'folks that can't afford a 3 shouldn't be allowed to buy a 1', or something to that effect? Are you afraid all these 'tuner kids' will suddenly be able to afford BMW's? If so, may I direct you to E46fanatics.com. The tuner kids have already found BMW's..

Please elaborate?

 

[NZL]

The 1-series is already available here in NZ, in fact there is one parked at my neighbors place as I 'speak.'

As with most bimmers, it looks better in the flesh than it does in print. Certainly much better than the E46 compacts they released a while back. And as for diluting the brand, the car reviewers here have rated it as being one of the best handling BMWs they've ever tasted... ever. It also holds up BMW's build quality and stays true to the RWD form that we would expect. Expect it to make a big dent in the A3 market.

(oh and Kiwi buyers aren't afraid of 4-cylinder cars).

 

[BimmerBaller]

the 1 is tight as hell...dont know what the problem is...i love seeing other 3ers out there and going for a good run on 880...same engine, may the better driver prevail