BMW expect rising fuel costs to spur 1-series sales
You've heard this shtick before, but with oil prices hitting record highs – again – most automakers are making a play at bringing more frugal offerings to market. In the case of BMW though, we're a bit disjointed on the idea. Sure, the 1-series is the company's second best seller in Europe, behind the 3-series, and purchasing a 128i when it goes on sale here in the States next year is the best way to get behind the wheel of a Bimmer on the cheap. But if buyers are supposedly so cost conscious, would they really drop the coin on a BMW if fuel consumption were at the top of their priority list? BMW's cache, in the realm of both driving dynamics and badge-snobber, is largely unmatched, but are buyers bent on a Bimmer really going to downsize their ride when they can surely afford the premium the marque commands? We're not so sure.
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
MJL 4:39PM (10/18/2007)
Yeah, plus they're offering it with the same engine range as the larger 3-series, so I don't see a whole lot of fuel-price-conscious decision making by BMW here
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AlfaMike 6:32PM (10/18/2007)
Well it's a smaller and lighter vehicle Einstein, so of course is will get better fuel economy.
Plus look at it, it's gorgeous. I don't see how you can troll this sweet new ride BMW's bringing us stateside.
Or are you all excited about the new hybrid Tahoe lol?
FLR 6:46PM (10/18/2007)
The 135 is 171"L x 68.8"W x 56"H. The curb weight in the brochure lists the i35 at 3,384 lbs, which for such a small car is kind of a porker. That's only 200 lbs less than the 335 coupe. Why so heavy???
To put this in perspective, my 191" long 2000 Pontiac Trans Am convertible with ZERO weight removal weighed in at 3,500 pounds at the dragstrip.
3,384 pounds!!!!
3,384 pounds!!!!!!!!
Three thousand three hundred eighty four pounds!!!
That is a VERY heavy car. Did they build it out of lead???
Owain Ozymandias Buck 8:34PM (10/18/2007)
FLR, I can appreciate your anguished reply of disbelief! Cars are getting too damn heavy! You'd think that a premium mark like BMW could build a small car with appropriate mass--I mean, surely they could engineer a car in that price range to be so much trimmer.
Where is the light car, where the good feeling steering? They have passed away...;)
Derek 7:44AM (10/19/2007)
FLR - full agreemement here. If it was in the 2800-3000# weight range I might be interested.
As-is? *yawn*
Jeff 1:39AM (10/21/2007)
The brochure states that the weight is 3732 for the 135 with manual tranny. 3384 for the auto. Is the manual really 250 lbs. heavier than the auto, or are there other major differences between models? That just doesn't make sense to me. I sure hope that's a type because that's just too much weight for this car. A larger and more powerful G35 coupe is the same weight.
Jeff 8:50PM (10/26/2007)
Sorry, 350 lbs.!!!
Chase 4:43PM (10/18/2007)
the premium the marque commands?
The premium comes from the higher level of quality in terms of safety, styling, luxury, and most importantly... PERFORMANCE.
This question you pose doesn't make much sense to me because there will be a need for fuel efficiency in every segment of the market, including the one the 1-series hopes to captivate.
This isn't Prada or Louis Vitton... you get what you pay for and that's why people have always paid the premium for a BMW.
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why not the LS2/LS7? 4:50PM (10/18/2007)
The car gets absurdly low mpg. Despite being a small car, it isn't offered with less than 6-cylinder.
Who is BMW trying to kid here?
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hhsohn 7:20PM (10/18/2007)
Obviously the Jedi PR trick doesn't work on you.
JMa 4:52PM (10/18/2007)
I'll wait for a 120i or 120d thank you. This car shouldn't need 200+ hp to be fun (though there is no doubt it won't hurt)
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MarkM3 5:03PM (10/18/2007)
How bout a 135d? That should still ring in well over 35mpg.
Aki 4:56PM (10/18/2007)
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the diesels are what make smaller cars sell in Europe. Having a regular retrol 128i is hardly a cost-effective choice.
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Rob 5:02PM (10/18/2007)
This car is butt-friggin-ugly.
There's only 2 reasons why this car will be bought.
1-Performance
2-Look at me....I'm in a leased Bimmer
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Eric 6:09PM (10/18/2007)
Hey Rob,
I'm wondering what your reference is for an attractive car. I think this car looks fantastic. The hatchback version sold in Europe is pretty ugly, but i think this one looks great!
LJKelley 1:18AM (10/19/2007)
I have to agree... my biggest pet peeves with BMW are the rear lights... they are never uniform but some weird mismatched blob... while this car seems to go towards more uniform its still not any particular shape. I much prefer the lights on lets say Audi or MB.
Second the interiors are always a bit boring to their main competitor MB. MB has an LCD with the speedometer for control over phone, music and car functions. In addition its more sleek with more round controls. In this car BMW goes for a weird curve that might be hip now but it 2 years will be boring. Step into a 1980s 500SL and the round controls and general setup are still inviting and if brand new would be more exciting than this BMW.
Logik 1:21AM (10/19/2007)
I second that! This car is just so....blech.
After two decades of buying/leasing every current (at the time) BMW model, my Dad decided to skip a generation because of the styling. Weird, but that says a lot.
Rogue_G 5:03PM (10/18/2007)
Hah, oh BMW... snobby, idiotic morons. There's nothing fuel efficient about BMW's, and their engine options in the 1 series aren't any more fuel efficient than their 3 series models. They really think people are stupid enough to believe a 1 series is better environmentally.
Then again, anything coming from Europe's Chevy doesn't surprise me anymore. Not worth the coin.
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2004m3driver 5:28PM (10/18/2007)
I agree with you guys about the BMW badge snobbery. However,there is one thing about BMW that really rattles me. My friends G35 gets around 17 MPGs while I generally get 18.3 sometimes 19mpg while having 34bhp more. This sounds good except for the fact that my girlfriends 325i gets about 18 mpg also even though it has much less power and weighs about the same.
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cellularcoffee 5:39PM (10/18/2007)
Rich people don't care about MPG. Also, they are mostly fat or have family, so the 1 series won't fit.
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