Probably after first of next year(Jan)

The 1 series coupe in M CSL form sounds massively appealing!

8er & 9er are pure rumours. Scott said a while ago BMW will build a large coupe (when he was talking about new 7er and small RR), but still undecided whether badge it BMW or RR. Neither is decided to go with more sporty variant (ala SLR) or more luxury (ala MB CL), nor how many doors will it have (2, 3 or 4), nor will it be a true coupe or a CC. 8-series or 9-series are possible labels for that car.

"To all intent and purpose: The new BMW 3er Coupe" - official blurb.
3er Coupe - as it was finally decided by board voting - will be announced (with first official data and pics) in late December / early January (more likely). The car will make its debute at Geneva autoshow in March 06. Preproduction starts in January, production in April 06. So, the car will hit European dealers in May 2006.

There are rumours BMW are to announce 335(s)i Coupe (with 3.0L I6 turbo & ZSG gearbox) at Geneva only, not earlier. 3er Coupe, 3er Cabrio and Z4 Coupe are the first models to get ZSG gearbox (a DSG killer).

BMW are expecting 2er coupe & cabrio will be a massive hit, due to 2002i hallo effect (especially in US). A car will be a pure "fat free" BMW - think of original E30 3er. M2 is a step back to basics performance car. It is expected to be competitively priced, with a real world performance.

"DSG killer"?

Yes. ZSG is BMW's answer to VW/Audi DSG dual clutch gearbox.

ZSG gearbox is expected to be offered in a regular top models (ala "si" and small M's ala M2), while SMG is reserved for torquey M versions (M3, M5, M6).

Benz might be the last to join the party... Imo, they need an alternative to their automatic gearboxes, even if they have 7 gears. It will definitely help with their image as a boring car... and not to mention that AMG cars will be even faster.
I'm extremely curious about all this new technology, for BMW anyway. ZSG, hard top convertible, possible turbo, hydrogen cars. Things are looking coo.

ZSG (Zentral Synchron Getriebe = Central Synchronized Gearbox), unlike Audi's DSG, uses only one clutch driving permanently engaged central input shaft.

The gears are pressed or welded to the input shaft. The output shaft has a gear permanently meshed to the input shaft, but they free a wheel on the output shaft (until you engage them) by sliding a collar with teeth to engage the gear to the shaft itself.

Such a solution enables much quicker and smoother shifting, without any lag and loss of force. It even makes possible to skip a few gears when shifting.
Different mode settings will also be available.

Damn! Tine you're an asset to this community. Keep that fine information flowing please...

Can't wait to see those first ZSG diagrams. For now though it sounds as if the technology is simpler than DSG but, with one clutch only, will it be as smooth?

"The small roadster in this market will be badged MINI - more identical to be a true Miata chaser more the preferred market to be."

I hope that's true. It's what they should have done with the normal Mini cabrio too.

BMW will not release such a system if it isn't at least as smooth or fast as the competition, right?

Nonono... BMW is hard at work! LOT'S of cars coming!

Well I certainly hope so klier, but with my rudimentary knowledge the secret to DSG's super quick shifting is the interplay between the two clutches seemlessly passing drive - between themselves - from one output shaft to another.

I dunno how this new ZSG is going to work though...

Yeah they are working quite hard but is it really important to have that many versions of an entry car like the 1er?