BMW Unveils Photos of Upcoming 1-Series 5-Door

BMW to Offer Full Range of 1- and 2-Series Models Based on Same Architecture

Will BMWs much anticipated 1-Series come to the U.S.? It is more likely to make it north of the 49th, to Canada, than here at home, based on recent comments made by Tom Purves, CEO of BMW North America.

In various Detroit trade paper news stories the German automakers CEO has been reported to have said the jury is still out on whether the 1-Series will enter the U.S. market or if it will merely be indefinitely delayed. And if it does make it over the Atlantic, just which iterations will be available.

The news came days before BMW offered media a first look at a 5-door version of the car in question, by releasing photos. Alongside the 5-door hatch, it is expected to be available in Europe as a 3-door hatch and a four-door sedan, plus a two-door coupe and convertible model that will most likely take the numerical designation of 2-Series - to follow the companys recent renaming process that features coupes and convertible on even numbers (the 3-Series coupe and convertible will reportedly be renamed 4-Series). Its even possible that BMW will offer a tiny Mazda MX-5 Miata fighting Z2 at some point.

The car, as sold in Europe, will feature BMWs inline four-cylinder engine family, made up of 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter displacements. BMW hasnt sold a 4-cylinder engine in North America since the departure of the 318i sedan, coupe and convertible, as well as the ill-fated E36/5 318ti hatchback.

It is precisely the less than enthusiastic response the U.S. market gave the brands 1995 through 1998 compact hatch that is causing BMW executives indecision regarding the 1-Series. The 318ti featured then current E36 3-Series architecture up front, and the less sophisticated previous generation E30 semi-trailing arm suspension at the rear, that it also shared with the Z3 roadster. It was a reasonably decent performer nevertheless, yet its ho-hum styling and cheap-looking one-piece plastic dash never caught on in the land where bigger is better.

The 1-Series, however, looks to be more dramatically designed, which should bode well for its future in all markets. After all its a compact, a segment of the market that begs for creativity. The midsize sedan market, on the other hand, includes cars that are traditionally more conservative than either top-line models or entry-level vehicles, both which regularly seem to attract buyers attempting to make a statement about their success or upwardly mobile progression.

Purves also made comments that suggest if a 1-Series does come to the U.S. it will feature at least one of the brands inline 6-cylinder engines, being that, in the opinion of BMW executives, four-cylinder engines wouldnt measure up to the automakers North American performance image.

U.S. bound or not, the 1-Series will begin selling in European markets this coming fall, the reason for the early release of the photos. The photos also come out when new car buyers are considering purchasing new compact offerings from Mercedes-Benz and Volvo, as well as Volkswagens much maligned Golf V, that is reportedly starting to sell better now than in previous months, and Mazdas popular new 3. While not all vehicles on this abbreviated list pose a direct threat to the Munich, Germany based automaker within the "compact executive segment," as BMW coins it, the 1-Series will compete at its lowest level with some less prestigious models top-line trim levels.

Where it breaks from tradition in this field is at the wheels. The 1-Series transmission will send power down to the rear wheels instead of those in front. In effect, it revives a model size and overall similarity to the popular 1600 and 2002 series cars of the late 1960s and early 70s, at least in spirit.

If BMW North America decides to cash in on the memory banks of BMW enthusiasts, a car like the 1-Series, if only offered in its sportiest configurations and highest performance trim levels, could attract a much younger buyer, and one that wouldnt necessarily have bought into the MINI Coopers front-wheel drive, retro styling theme.

Comparatively the 1 is hardly retro, with a very modern design theme that originates in the CS1 concept, a 2+2 convertible that BMW showed in 2002.

According to BMW online bulletin boards, found within many of the brands countless fan web sites, a significant number of enthusiasts are hoping that BMW brings the 1-Series into the U.S., even with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine as the only power unit. Rising fuel costs could make a four-cylinder engine option much more palatable to American consumers than ever before.

Of interest to Americans, BMW Canada will most likely bring the 1-Series to market no matter what the U.S. division does, especially after Audis recent news of its recently redesigned A3 coming to the Canadian market. Small cars do better there than south of the border, prompting DaimlerChryslers smart division to offer the tiny two-occupant fortwo model (lower case intentional) in Canada for fall 2004 availability.