BMW has hatched plans for a new BMW 1-series badged rear-drive junior saloon that is being pitched as the spiritual successor to the E30-generation 3-series four-door.
The car will play an integral role in meeting BMW’s ambitious worldwide sales target of two million cars a year by 2020, and should become one of the firm’s best sellers in key saloon markets such as North America and China.
The new four-door will join an expanded 1-series line-up as a rival to the upcoming third-generation Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz CLA compact saloons, as well as the established Volkswagen Jetta.
It could go on sale as early as 2015 and will undercut BMW’s perennial best-seller, the 3-series saloon, on price.
Before the four-door 1-series arrives, however, BMW will launch successors to today’s first-generation 1-series coupé and convertible, codenamed F22 and F23 respectively and due in 2014.
Central among BMW’s decision to push ahead with a 1-series saloon are the ever-increasing dimensions of the 3-series saloon. Since its introduction in 1975, it has grown by 269mm in length, 210mm in width and 49mm in height, taking it into a higher market segment.
Using a rear-wheel drive platform that shares some key elements with the latest, sixth-generation 3-series should ensure a sporting drive for the 1-series saloon.
The decision to adopt this rear-drive layout comes despite the creation of a new front-drive platform to be shared with Mini. It will be used for a new 1-series GT model in 2013, a rival to the Mercedes-Benz B-class and next year’s third-generation Mini.
Four and six-cylinder engines will feature in the 1-series saloon line-up, while an all-electric version is also under consideration. Four-wheel drive will be an option.
Initially, the four-door 1-series will be built alongside hatchback, coupé and convertible models in Leipzig, Germany. In the longer term, it could also be built at BMW’s Shenyang plant in China and a new facility earmarked for Santa Catarina, Brazil.
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With the target
With the target audience North Americans being generally biger and the Chinese liking long wheelbase versions of cars, I dont think it will be too cramped in the rear. I`d take a 120d or maybe a 128.
first BMW makes a long wheel
first BMW makes a long wheel base version of the 3 series for the Chinese market (becausethose guys seem to like big cars) then they make a smaller, cramped saloon for the same market. something is seriouly wrong.
kondeamani wrote: first BMW
Or maybe they are targeting different demographics/market sector customers?
What a shame the UK doesn't like saloons!
Every time we see a stylish new 4-door we're told it's for the "emerging markets" or the US. What a shame. I don't know why the UK has such an aversion to saloons. I personally find them much more attractive than many hatchbacks. Take the Buick Verano, for example - what a beautiful addition that would make to the Vauxhall Astra lineup.
Mentioning the Verano also brings me to another point - why are we forced to have such monocrhome cars? Many manufacturers seem to only offer black, white, silver, grey, grey, grey, blue-grey or grey... or flat red to show that you couldn't afford the metallic option. Interiors are a similar story. Even though many cars offer a leather option for the premium model, few (until you reach the elite levels of BMW, Audi, Mercedes etc.) offer anything other than black.
If I could buy a small-medium car right now it would be a dark red Verano with a beige leather interior. The problem is, the UK car market offers nothing like it and doesn't show any signs that it ever will.