Looks a lot like the Mazda 3 hatchback....I think BMW really has a chance with this to crack the low/mid market if they don't cheapen it up. Still, I wonder if they're concerned about cannibalizing Mini sales? Also, they've been tentative about going low end with the BMW brand since the 318ti. I had one of those, and loved it, but BMW felt it was a dismal failure. Of course, they also thought Z3 Coupe was a failure, but its the sickest enthusiast's car ever built in my calculated and thoroughly unbiased opinion...
Speaking of the 318ti, they did make a 'sport' version with the M front treatment and some other glitz. Not a bad car, but certainly not an M. Would have been fun if they shoved some real muscle under the hood, and one can only imagine what it would have done to sales....