BMW could be developing 1-Series "Shooting Brake" wagon
BMW's 1 Series is stuck between a rock and a hard place, neatly slotting in between BMW's perennial best-selling 3-series and the FWD wunderkind, MINI. Loaded-up Coopers pass the $30K mark with ease and the base 3-Series model starts in the same neighborhood. This doesn't leave much wiggle room with the 1 Series, but BMW is looking to make the most of what little extra market share is available. One segment that the Bavarian automaker is looking to explore is the "shooting brake" body style (think 2-door wagon) that would add a dose of practicality to the small coupe in the form of a rear hatch.
This type of vehicle has historically fared rather poorly in the style-conscious United States, but Europeans seem more apt to choose practical hatch-like styles, so we'd expect the new model to debut across the pond for sure. BMW is expected to launch a new version of its entry-level model that will be larger and offer downsized engines with direct injection and forced induction burning both gasoline and diesel fuel.
[Source: Auto Bild via Motor Authority]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
xspeedy 1:44PM (11/25/2008)
Sure, build it and don't bring it here.
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Mobius_1 1:43PM (11/25/2008)
I really don't think the 1 Series look nice, and definitely not the best car you could buy for the price. (The badge isn't worth all that much to me, but there are definitely people who that propeller is worth loads to)
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zamafir 2:38PM (11/25/2008)
Nope, esp. if you're talking the 128. And why even bother calling it a shooting brake. Just be blunt, BMW's thinking of bringing the 1 series two door hatch over. How hard was that. oh. wait. wait. This is the company that lets you spec a mini above $45,000, that fits inadequate oil coolers to the 335i so it wont track past 10 minutes, and that needs to reflash their noisy engines. Yeah. call it a 'shooting brake', yawn.
Here's a crazy idea, go back to building the unquestioned ultimate driving machine, reduce the weight of your cars so they're not within a few percentage points of quattro equipped audis, and stop putting pointless bs tech inside. That'll help gain some unrealized market share.
Omer 2:59PM (11/25/2008)
As a current bmw 335 owner I completely agree with you. BMW needs to get back to basic with light weight (> 3000) cars that can daily driven and tracked. Stop building 3500 pounds 3 and 1 series that aren't good for anything besides lifting egos. I say keep 3,5,and 7 series for badge mongers and give us proper Z and 1 series car. Give owners engine options starting from 2.0 V4 that rev high to 3.0TT that is a monster. unlike Lexus, Merc and Audi atleast they still offer an amazing 6speed option.
Plus, they need improve quality and reduce some idiot design "Features". Btw my favorite BMW of all time is Z3M Coupe (previous owner of Honda Civic hatch VTEC). So I would love a "shooting brake" hatchback coupe with M kit.
RT 1:45PM (11/25/2008)
So, this would just be the five door 1 series with just two doors? That shouldn't be too expensive to do; most of the stampings would be the same as the 5 door version.
Speaking of that car, I hope they bring the 5 door here; I was disappointed it didn't make it with the coupe; hopefully tastes are shifting enough here to make a viable business case for BMW USA to introduce it.
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Mirko 2:48PM (11/25/2008)
The car in the picture is the 3-door hatch they sell since last year - it's the basic shape of the 5-door, but with the coupe's frameless door windows.
I have a black one. It's a very good little car.
toronado455 1:47PM (11/25/2008)
Nice!
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JF 1:48PM (11/25/2008)
I'm from the U.S. and I don't understand why a sedan or jacked-up wagon is perceived as "cooler" than an acutal wagon/hatch. Regardless, Americans (the majority) need to get over this stigma.
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RPM 1:48PM (11/25/2008)
The hatch looks so much better than the coupe. Why can't we like hatchbacks in North America?
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slicecom 1:54PM (11/25/2008)
Wow wait a minute. We like them in Canada and they're popular in Mexico as well. The only part of North America that has a problem with wagons and hatchbacks is the USA.
Torrent 1:59PM (11/25/2008)
I see the Fit, Versa, A4 and A6 Avant and 3 series wagon selling great here in the U.S. There's a great chunk of us who would buy a hatch.
s13hybrid 2:03PM (11/25/2008)
I agree 100%. I think a hatch can look great, and it adds more practicality. The Mini is basically a hatch and that does well, why wouldn't this?
I dream of turbo six cyl hatches when I sleep.
s13hybrid 2:04PM (11/25/2008)
Also, I am dissapointed that the old M coupe did not do better, it is strangley cooler looking than the m convertable in my opinion.
P.V. 6:39PM (11/25/2008)
I would also LOVE the hatch. It's so much more practical and nice-looking than the coupe (which just looks frumpy) without sacrificing performance. THAT would be a REAL hot hatch (how many current hatches do you know that are RWD (wagons, minivans, crossovers all don't count)?).
Shiftright 1:54PM (11/25/2008)
Hmm, hasn't this car already been in production for the last four years or so in Europe?
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Swede 2:10PM (11/25/2008)
With more doors, yes.
mkM3 2:15PM (11/25/2008)
If you are talking about the car pictured in the blog post, then yes. It's strange how many people don't know this based on some of the posts here that seem to be commenting on that picture, and making remarks as if it is a new model.
I assumed autoblog included the pic as a basis for comparison against a currently available model. But maybe they, too, are confused, thinking that the car above would be the new shooting brake they claim is coming, and that it would be a new model in the lineup.
Swede 2:13PM (11/25/2008)
I changed my mind, the new answer is: yes.
Also, AB comment system SUCKS!
mkM3 2:18PM (11/25/2008)
Um Swede, take a look here:
http://www.bmw.com/com/en/newvehicles/1series/3door/2007/introduction.html
3seriesisking 2:44PM (11/25/2008)
Then quit using it Swede.