[Mark]

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Spyshots of the 2012 BMW 1-Series (F20) show off the new center console and gauges

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Its no secret that BMW aim to make the next generation 1-Series (codenamed F20 for the hatchback) a centerpiece BMW model, holding equal importance to its older 3-Series and 5-Series brethern. Proof of that is in the pudding, first off this car has and continues to undergo extensive testing that belies the fact that everything is being put into this car to make it top of its class.

Also of note, is BMWs recent turn towards fitting high end options normally reserved for the 5-Series or 7-Series and bringing those options to the smaller 1-Series and 3-Series. During the economic downtown, BMW discovered that people did infact downsize the car, but at the same time, they would upsize on the options to really spec out their cars, and so as a result BMW aims to bring almost every feature of those cars downmarket. While the details of these options cannot be well seen on the spy photos so far, this is welcome news and I really think the next generation 1-Series will be a huge success.

As always, follow our entire coverage of the 1-Series on BIMMERPOST @ http://www.bimmerpost.com/1-series/. To see our list of 1-series spyshots you can also surf over to http://www.bimmerpost.com/spyshots/1-series/

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Some previous close up photos:

[esquire]

not really seeing much of anything that gives me any real insight.

[persian54]

wait why does it look like a 1 seater in the first picture?

[BMW86]

I'm pretty sure that's the same interior lol

[FrenchBoy]

Interesting. The front brakes look like multi-piston calipers. I don't think the hatch currently comes with multi-piston calipers. Only the 135i does.

[Leo_328i]

The dash looks a bit plain, it looks flat and pretty boring just like an E90 dash.

Thought the 1 Series should be driver oriented?

[Evolution_GT]

Originally Posted by persian54

wait why does it look like a 1 seater in the first picture?

Sunroof picture taken on an angle.

[masamune]

Excellent pixelation on the guy's face...can't tell who it is at all!

[uhn2000]

I love my 1er.. better options then my buddies 335 and its just such a joy to drive.

[TsunamiFury]

Originally Posted by Leo_328i

The dash looks a bit plain, it looks flat and pretty boring just like an E90 dash.

Thought the 1 Series should be driver oriented?

I love it, it's a bit of an optical illusion. Unlike the e46 driver oriented dash which was only tilted on the y axis this also seems to be tilted up on the z axis. I really hope the same caries over to the 3 series. It's the ultimate driver oriented dashboard.

[bdardashti]

Seems like the 1er won't have iDrive standard. I thought with the release of the X3 having iDrive standard (and navigation extra) the F20 would follow with that strategy.

[timmahh]

That's epic fail on trying to hide the drivers face.. needs a bit more pixelation.

[Rawhide]

They sure love playing peek-a-boo with this model don't they?

[bonwit904]

notice the extra overhang after the front wheels vs. the current 1 in the other lane --- commensurate with FWD?

What a real shame....

[NiVeDh]

George Clooney?

[akhter]

total fail on the face blurring...

[E90PAT]

Originally Posted by akhter

total fail on the face blurring...

this.

[Cy3]

I do hope they bring back the temperature rotary dial - while it was never a deal breaker, nor did I always know 100% what it did; it was one of the first things I noticed was missing when I picked up my 1. I was also a little baffled when I saw the HVAC above the stereo but I guess that was another round of 'trickery' as it was swapped back in the latter pictures.

[achtungE30]

Not liking the adaptation of the lexus-style new BMW gauge cluster carryover from the 5 and 7 series...but it looks like we're gonna have to grow to like it.

[SkipSauls]

Originally Posted by bonwit904

notice the extra overhang after the front wheels vs. the current 1 in the other lane --- commensurate with FWD?

What a real shame....

One thing that often gives away FWD vs RWD is the distance between the front wheel wells and the leading edge of the doors. You can use either the actual distance or a ratio relative to the overall length of the car to often "guess" whether a car is based on a FWD architecture.

Most economy cars don't worry about this, as passenger volume trumps any worries over the handling issues caused by hanging all of the weight out over the nose. "Premium" and "luxury" cars such as those from Audi (most models except for the R8), Bentley (Continental GT & Flying Spur), Lexus (HS, ES & RX), Lincoln (all models except for Navigator and Town Car), Cadillac (DTS & SRX), Mini, VW, and others all suffer from this "feature" because they are based on FWD architectures. Many of them have AWD as standard or an option in an attempt to mask this fact, although they have a hard time escaping the wheel-to-door issue.

Using Google images you can see this for yourself pretty easily. Compare a BMW to the respective Audi model and it's fairly dramatic. I like the styling of many Audis, especially the S5 and new A7, but they still scream FWD despite the best efforts to disguise the fact.

I'd bet that the new 1 series is RWD and the overhang is due to the European crash safety standards. All of the new BMWs have a more pronounced nose, and it's going to take some time to get used to it. I'll take the bigger schnoz so long as they don't start Bangling up the styling again!

[zephyr]

Epic fail and ugly interior! Nough' said!

[Itanius]

I hope that interior isn't production (which I'm sure it isn't).