German Car Zone

Originally Posted by AdvEvo

same thoughts as eni.

I am big 1er fan especially the agile handling and I like fast engines aswell but not a 135i turbo. Too nose heavy. Too much compromise for good chassis handling.

Just bring a 280hp or so 130i coupe and everyone is happy. After that bring a 330hp or more M1 and keep 3.5 turbo for the 3 series and above.

I have a 3 doors 130i on order and already own a 5 doors 130i but how much i like power i would never choose the 135i.

Keep the weight down make it the best handling car bmw has. Don t put nose heavy 6cil turbo engines in it.

If i could make the bmw 1er coupe petrol line up.

120i atmo 170hp
120i turbo 230hp
130i atmo 280hp
M1 atmo 330hp or more use the lightweight 3.0 engine get valvetronic off and put throttle bodies on and put revs to 8000 rpm or more.

If they could get 330hp and keep the weight around 1300kg. That would be just perfect. That s not light but it s the limit.

I rather have little less hp and less kg. M1 must be bmw best drivers car in the book no autobahn fast cruiser. What i like to see is a car that attacks corners and can get smiles on youre face while cornering. We don t need an other car that give tears in youre eyes because the front tires squeal soo loud because off understeer from the heavy nose.
We have enough cars which do that.

Originally Posted by EnI

I have another complaint about 1er family strategy.

Look, 3dr hatch is being introduced 2.5 years after 5dr hatch. Coupe 3 years later, and cabrio even 3.5 years later.

We know BMW vehicles have 7-year long life-cycle.

I guess when new new Mk 1er 5dr hits the roads in 2011 - what will happen to 3dr version? Will it still be produced for another 2.5 years till new 3dr version comes, or will production end together with 5dr version?

What we can be 100% sure is that coupe & cabrio will still be produced till their new Mk introduction in 2014/15.

So ...

Who will buy 3dr hatch, and coupe & cabrio after new completely redesigned Mk 1er 5dr is introduced in 2011? Who will buy old 1er variants with old 1er design after new 1er 5dr version with completely new design is introduced in 2011? OK, same case with eg. 3er - but there the time gap between the first launched variant (sedan) and the last one (cabrio) is max 2 years. In 1er case the gap is 3.5 years!!!

IMO sales of 1er 3dr, coupe & cabrio sales will be hurt a lot after 2011 - if still being in production. So, 2nd half of coupe & cabrio life-cycle will be completely sluggish.

And that's all due (almost) same design for all 1er variants, and huge delays in introduction between specific 1er variants.

So, to keep up with new 5dr version BMW will have to introduce a major facelift of coupe & cabrio sometimes in 2011/12. Something like Audi did with A4 B6 -> B7.

It would be much easier if different 1er version had a bit different designs. Or named coupe & cabrio 2-series, and gave them completely different design.

I have a feeling 1er family strategy (timing) is a minor failure. But I hope I'm wrong.

Originally Posted by SCOTT27

"The perfect combination of Exhilaration and Emotion..."

Heres what it looks like behind the mask and without a film crew....
E82.JPG (37.9 KB)

And the Cabrio.
E82.JPG (37.9 KB)

And the M1 - look at the picture and see if you see the insiders update ...
E82.JPG (37.9 KB)

look at the front and you will see the new M treatment which will feature on the M1 although the larger intake is more angular trapese shape to meet with the brake cooling ducts. All three heading your way and US bound too.

And Just over a month until the debut.