[Mark]

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Upcoming 2012 1-Series 5-Door (F20) spied testing on the Nurburgring (03/28/2011)

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We've caught the new upcoming 2012 1-Series hatch every which way imaginable, but now the car has finished its winter testing and entered Nurburgring testing. This is a critical point on the path for any BMW towards production. In fact, the new 5-door hatch is rumored to be revealed online this spring, 2011, with its first public showing at the Frankfurt autoshow this fall, so I'm sure things are in high gear with the 1-Series development team.

This particular vehicle is the 5-door hatchback variant, which is the basis model of the 1-Series, and just as in the previous generation vehicle, this model will not make its way onto US shores. However, this car will serve as the basis for the entire 1-series lineup, with a 3-door hatch variant (also not expected in the US) and a coupe variant expect to come in within 12-16 months after the initial debut of this one. For US 1-Series Coupe owners, you can set your clocks to T-minus 1.5 years from now for the replacement to arrive. An ///M variant, is a sure bet, as BMW have staked a big claim on the current ///1M, so expect a 1M model to arrive in the next 1-Series Coupe shell.

This new model borrows heavily from the current BMW geneology, with the sculpted hood and body swages that debuted on the F01 7-Series, and were further refined on the F10 5-Series. This design language is peaking under Adrian van Hooydonk's leadership and should provide for a sporty/upscale mix to the 1-Series.

Most notable, is BMWs return to the shark grill-- that is the forward leaning front grill that was a trademark for the brand in the '70s and '80s. Its a step by step process, but you can see it making its way onto the new F12/13 6-Series has this grill, and if you look closely at our cropped pictures below, you can clearly see the forward leaning grill on this car as well. The car also now sits on some more production friendly wheels, and looks a whole hell of a lot better then it did in prior spy photos, all in all the car is really coming together. This car will be MEAN looking. Looking forward to that reveal......!

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[CSL-Fanatik]

Love it!!

My brother, who lives in Munich, has a 120d M Sport - which is just awesome. I wish they came to the US.

[Diver]

Not in the US, too bad. My guess is the next 1 coupe will debut as a 2014 model, skipping a year.

[Dackelone]

I like it! I have seen some prototypes on the Autobahns over here. I am always taken a back by how much larger(and taller) this new 1er is - then the old e87 four door hatch. They do look a lot alike - just that the new one is a bigger car. I am just not feeling that rear bumper cover, the way it is shaped around the lic plate tag.

Dackel

[Mako]

So what is the difference between this and the X1?

[deshields]

Originally Posted by Mako

So what is the difference between this and the X1?

Totally different cars, I believe this one is built on the same platform as the new X3 and the coming 3-series. The X1 was built on the now older E91 3-series platform

[antzcrashing]

Originally Posted by Diver

Not in the US, too bad. My guess is the next 1 coupe will debut as a 2014 model, skipping a year.

I haven't heard that US won't get hatch - it could happen.

Looks great, love the forward leaning grill.

[111R]

Shame on BMW for not bringing this over with the 2-liter petrol and diesel engines. With the F30 growing in size, BMW will no longer have a 4-door car I'm interested in. Glad I just ordered an E90....

[BMWDAD]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

I like it! I have seen some prototypes on the Autobahns over here. I am always taken a back by how much larger(and taller) this new 1er is -

Dackel

Could be the perfect size as the 3er grows. I am looking forward to reading the reviews on the hatch, to see if I am interested in buying the coupe.

[Mark]

Originally Posted by 111R

Shame on BMW for not bringing this over with the 2-liter petrol and diesel engines. With the F30 growing in size, BMW will no longer have a 4-door car I'm interested in. Glad I just ordered an E90....

There may be no 1er Hatch coming to the US, but there are strong rumors swirling around of a 1-Series GT (http://f20.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=481134) which could def. make it to the US to fill the small sedan void.. I would think alot of this will depend on how the 3er GT is recieved

[mtechnik3]

Ahhhh, looks great! I want this for my next car. Please BMW, send it to the States with a turbocharged I-6.

[Ryan Mills]

Those wheels look mighty familiar.... The car looks a lot like a cross between my old GTI and my 335, doesn't it? Weird. If the interior is around the same size as the GTI, I'd buy one!

[cukoodukoo]

They should have made it a little more bigger to compete with the 6 series.Awesome route to follow BMW

[Kg810]

Originally Posted by antzcrashing

I haven't heard that US won't get hatch - it could happen.

For real?

It says it in the first post

This particular vehicle is the 5-door hatchback variant, which is the basis model of the 1-Series, and just as in the previous generation vehicle, this model will not make its way onto US shores. However, this car will serve as the basis for the entire 1-series lineup, with a 3-door hatch variant (also not expected in the US) and a coupe variant expect to come in within 12-16 months after the initial debut of this one.

[bmwdinamo]

Bring it to U.S. with a diesel engine!
I need a daily driver!

[vladberca]

Curious about the performances of a turbo petrol I4

[comar1979]

I don't understand Why they don't bring that Car to the US?

"stupid is, who stupid does!"

[Dennis911]

The car keeps looking better and better. If only they would bring a 6 cylinder engine, then I would seriously consider it my next car, but with only 4 its out.

[v1p3r]

This is looking better and better. With the 180kW turbo 4 this could well be the ultimate hot hatch in its segment. And then to K.O. the competition the 135i version...

[SCOTT26]

Not coming to the US market. But one will be filming in Los Angeles , next week.

[hks786]

I think the car looks a lot better from the rear now, but I think the front is still going to look weird without M-sport. I dunno about the 1 series, I've never liked it without M-sport because I think it just has a funny shape to it.

Even considering the Golf, it looks like a big bubble and only looks good with certain mods and spec. I prefer the old Mk4 in terms of design. Although I can't fault the quality of Golfs because they are great. I can honestly say that the current A3 3-door hatch is the best hatch design out there right now. It looks so much better than all the others.

[red-sauerkraut]

Ridiculous in these times not to offer this car to North America.

Seems to be a complete bulls-eye in many ways.

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Not coming to the US market. But one will be filming in Los Angeles , next week.