By Andrei Avarvarii
August 1, 2008
Which vehicle is not cheap, not particularly roomy or comfortable, but can go round a bend like no other hatch?! It's the only car in its class with a classic layout, the BMW 1-Series. It has been accused of completely sacrificing comfort and practicality, yet it produces Joker-like grins on the track. It could have been front wheel driven with a transverse engine and a big ass to accommodate five plus luggage, but don't we already have enough of those? Yes, it's true it's priced closely to the 3-Series but offers less. However, if you are young and naive things look a little different. It's a "lifestyle" vehicle, and a successful one so far. That's why I think the next gen 1-Series will stick to the same philosophy: compact enough to be useful in the city, Bimmer dynamics, and expensive enough to make a wealth statement. Design-wise I'm bet on a more aggressive stance featuring the new BMW uber-grille, LED lights and flame-surfacing creases.
[For more of AA's photochopistry, click on www.avarvarii.com]
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August 1st, 2008 at 9:30 am
I like the looks of that, but I was also a fan of the Z3 coupe and it’s strange design.
August 1st, 2008 at 10:24 am
Here’s hoping that they send Mr. Bangle on vacation and let someone else handle the facelift. That way the lines in the car might be going the same direction.
August 1st, 2008 at 10:30 am
There are uglier cars than the 1-series, but it is a short list. So, anything helps and I like this proposal. Now if someone could still explain exactly why there is a 1 series I’d be happy.
August 1st, 2008 at 1:01 pm
if you are referring to the current 1 series coupe not convertible then you are completely wrong on the comfort and practicality comment. The seats in my 128 coupe (although upgraded) are the most comfortable seats I have ever sat in at any price. Still trying to figure out how to get one of them for my office chair. And praticalility, let’s see I can carry 4 reasonable sized adults in comfort and still have a decent sized trunk for carrying equipment. If I loose the 2 people in the back I have room for 2 adults in great comfort plus a week’s worth of camping and snowboarding equipment without the need for a roof rack. And still get 30mpg and can perform better then most cars on the road, 0-60 times under 6 seconds.
BTW I do like this design as well, I like the throw back to the z3 coupe (M Coupe I guess it was called)
August 1st, 2008 at 1:48 pm
I really hope they don’t do that. I’m just now starting to warm to the existing 1-series. These massive round nostrils, not so much.
August 1st, 2008 at 5:36 pm
For years, automotive journalists wrote on the “Cons” column of their articles about the 3-Series, back seat is too small. Then along comes the E90, and now the “Con” column says, ‘It’s too long and too heavy.’ Then BMW offers the 1-Series, and the complaint about the small back seat starts again. It’s not a problem particular to TTAC (C&D is one of the worst offenders, IIRC), but it is silly. If you want a spacious car, buy the bigger car. You can’t have everything.
August 3rd, 2008 at 4:16 pm
IF BMW were clever, they’d use your design as an inspiration. But they are not, so they won’t.