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Spy Shots: BMW 1-Series Coupe undisguised
by John Neff on Jun 5th 2007 at 6:02PM 
Here we have spy shots of an almost completely uncloaked 1-Series Coupe, the version of BMW's smallest car that we'll be getting here in the U.S. To put it bluntly, this is the BMW we Autobloggers are longing for. It's small size and lighter weight should translate into a car that's more nimble than the old E36 3-Series, which is the last car we can remember that relied more on its handling prowess than its engine displacement to be an ultimate driving machine. Sources report that the 1-Series Coupe in the U.S. will not be offered with a four-cylinder engine. Instead, the base model will likely be powered by the 3.0L six from the 130i. A high-performance model with BMW's twin-turbo 3.0L inline-six will also be available, providing an ample amount of grunt to make the 1-Series Coupe a force with which to be reckoned. Still, even the base model, which will likely be priced between $25k and $28k, should be a capable performer. [Source: World Car Fans]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
k0an 6:16PM (6/05/2007)
The rear-end is a little fugly (hopefully that's still disguised). The brake lights look incomplete. It's strange, the front and the sides look like a nice BMW and the rear looks like a cheap Asian import.
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FLR 6:16PM (6/05/2007)
I want to like this car because I'm sure that it will be a very impressive performer with the 3.0L TT. However, wow is the profile ugly! Could somebody please remove Chris Bangle from the design team. The car just seems disjointed, almost like it's bending at the centerline like an inchworm. Ewww.
Having said that...I'd love to drive the TT version!
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Juan 6:22PM (6/05/2007)
Profile is indeed fugly. Kind of Hyundai-ish from a few years ago.
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Typesbad 6:23PM (6/05/2007)
Damn the American market and its hatchiphobia! The 1-Series hatch looks so much better than this and is much more useful besides:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.motorauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/BMW/1/three_door/bmw_1_side.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.motorauthority.com/news/hatchbacks/bmw-1-series-three-door/&h=224&w=510&sz=39&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=tFlfo80gvpebTM:&tbnh=58&tbnw=131&prev=/images%3Fq%3D1-Series%2Bhatch%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official
Sigh!
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Richard 6:26PM (6/05/2007)
I love the last picture with the BMW on the flatbed: a monthly ritual with my pal's 540.
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Barry 10:17PM (6/05/2007)
Yikes! How badly does one have to want an BMW to buy one of these?!
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jg 6:31PM (6/05/2007)
There is tape on the sides. That's why it looks weird. The back is still under wraps too as well as the headlights.
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jg 6:33PM (6/05/2007)
More info and rumors.
http://www.2addicts.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=30
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Alex 6:35PM (6/05/2007)
The only way a 135i (TT) could be usable is for it to have a LS diff. The only way BMW is putting a diff in a car is if it calls it an M.
Hence, if a 3L TT makes it into 1-series, then that model will be M1 and will probably cost ~ $40K
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Tim 7:09PM (6/05/2007)
This car has the 325 or 328 engine. There is no dual exhaust. No matter what this car looks you will be seeing it everywhere on college campuses driven by coed's, purchased by their parents
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Silver 7:07PM (6/05/2007)
Ugh, put the disguise back on! Please!!!
What is with BMW's obsession with gratuitous creases? Are they just so terrified of drawing a clean line that they have to muck up the works with a bunch of oddly-angled noise?
Sad. At least we still have MINI...
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darius fleck 7:10PM (6/05/2007)
I like it. A perfect replacement for my E30!
Bring the hatch over too!
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Sam Gross 7:17PM (6/05/2007)
The taillights look like they are shaped similar to the 3's. If you compare the rear of the 1 series with the 3 series in front of it you can see a definite resemblance
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Mike 7:39PM (6/05/2007)
KINDA BUSTED AS A COUPE.
I'LL TAKE THE HATCHBACK IN A SPLIT SECOND THOUGH!!!
http://www.motorauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/BMW/1/three_door/bmw_1_side.jpg
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Kit 7:44PM (6/05/2007)
But it's so ugly...
Perhaps the convertible will solve some of this.
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jdehnert 8:12PM (6/05/2007)
Oddly proportioned and uninspiring. BMW really seems to have lost the magic.
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Logik 8:23PM (6/05/2007)
Holy crap! At first I was like, "this doesn't look too bad," how wrong I was. After I followed the link; my jaw dropped. It will be a sad day, the day that thing wears a the BMW roundel.
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naggs 8:56PM (6/05/2007)
what the hell, are you guys all smoking crack? this car is going to be the best thing since sliced bread. if that car in the picture can be had with the 3.0 for anywhere near $25k i cant think of a reason why i will not own one.
that is unless bmw somehow totally drops the ball and makes it handel like crap. but i just dont see bmw screwing this one up.
i will however agree that the bangel design is not good. there has been enough time for it to sink in and it is no better than it was on day one. time for it to go. hopefull the next gen of bmw cars will loose the random lines and creases and go back to evolving the e30/36/46 design language.
all previous gen BMWs look better than their current counterparts.
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nirad 12:34PM (6/06/2007)
why does BMW persist with these headlights that simply don't look good. The creases along the side aren't bad, it's the head and tail of modern BMWs that look like shite.
Aside from that, this car looks pretty good. It does seem really close in size to the 3 series, and i have a hard time seeing how it doesn't step on its big brothers toes. I suppose the same could be said for the Audi A3 and A4 avant.
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hashiryu 9:20PM (6/05/2007)
@naggs,
you are the one on crack if you think you could get this for 25k
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