[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW F20 1-series Continues Testing Prior to Imminent Reveal

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The F20 1-series hatchback's online reveal is imminent - perhaps as early as this week, if not the next. But testing of the model's FEP prototypes continues.

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 (and rumored 2-series lineup - More Info), with a 3-door hatch variant (also not expected in the US), coupe, cabrio, city compact, family activity sports tourer, and GT models (More Info).

BMW M will also have its hands at the new 1-Series and an M version should arrive 2-3 years after the arrival of the hatchback this year. If the rumors are true that the 1-series coupe will indeed be spun off as the 2-series, per sources above, this would mean that the coupe's M version will be named the M2.

The F20 1-series hathback is expected to make its World Premiere at the 2011 Frankfurt Autoshow in September. (see: http://www.bimmerpost.com/future-bmw/).

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[DeeKay]

Come on and show the damn thing, because it looks cool !!

[BMW SP]

damn that looks fly... especially those wheels.

[uae247]

Congrats on your new purchase.
I also have an E90 M3 (and two E30 M3s too) and am waiting for the arrival of my 1M in the UAE.
To make the wait easier, I bought a 2011 DCT 135i which I really like. A DCT along with a manual M3 are good alternatives.
The 135, stock, understeers more than the M3, but is very torquey.
The M3 has an amazing wail above 6k and nice horsepower in the top end.
I do drift a lot, so I think that the 1M will be a great drift car with all it's low end torque.

[fiiisk]

cant wait

[SCOTT26]

Caught whilst having lunch.

[Zadjali]

I can see two taillights types . . . the front with the horizontal LED tubes where the rear with normal halogen bulbs!

Looks like the LED tubes taillights comes with the Xenon headlights where the halogen bulbs taillights comes with the halogen headlights as we can see from the second picture.

[111R]

BMW should bring this over with the N20 gasoline engine and the 123d 2-liter diesel engine. It would be a great Golf alternative if they did. It would draw in people who wouldn't ordinarily shop BMW due to BMW NA's concentration on high-end models and SUV's. It couldn't hurt their CAFE rating as well. I suppose that BMW figures that people shopping this segment should go ahead and buy a MINI product from them, but the FWD, spotty reliability, and goofy center-mounted speedometer are deal-breakers for me.

[Zirenz2006]

I am so bummed they aren't bringing this to the US. I'd get one in a heartbeat.

[Zadjali]

Originally Posted by mvaccaro

It might be that the one with the dual tailpipes is a 128 and the one in front it's a 135 with dual on opposite sides and the girl in the bike is covering the other pipe with his butt.....



like (this seems to be the same BMW model in the front on that picture, besides the color):
this has dual separate pipes and LEDS



Coincidentally there is no pic from behind of the BMW car in front to see the pipes

Also the front bmw might be a higher tirm (135) as it has rear LED lights while the one in the back hasn't....

Also front lights look different too...

There's no exhaust covered behind the girl in the bike . . . The front car have only single exhaust pipe which shown . . . It could be 116/118/120 but not 135 !

[SFDede]

Originally Posted by 111R

BMW should bring this over with the N20 gasoline engine and the 123d 2-liter diesel engine. It would be a great Golf alternative if they did. It would draw in people who wouldn't ordinarily shop BMW due to BMW NA's concentration on high-end models and SUV's. It couldn't hurt their CAFE rating as well. I suppose that BMW figures that people shopping this segment should go ahead and buy a MINI product from them, but the FWD, spotty reliability, and goofy center-mounted speedometer are deal-breakers for me.

I couldn't agree with you more that they should bring this to the US.

[SFDede]

Originally Posted by Zirenz2006

I am so bummed they aren't bringing this to the US. I'd get one in a heartbeat.

I've never read the business case for not bringing it to the US. All people say is American's don't like hatches, which is BS. Enough do. Scouring online sources, I find the following:

Audi A3 - US sales rate of over 500 per month with over half TDI (with an ancient platform!)
VW GTI - US sales rate of over 1500 per month
Mini Cooper S - US sales rate of over 3300 per month
Mini Clubman S - US sales rate of over 800 per month
Lexus CT 200h - US sales of over 2000 in first month with annual target of 12,000

What this tells me is that Audi does reasonably well with such an old vehicle, and their customers will pay for efficiency. Mini has over half the market and VW 20%. Americans supposedly don't like hatches, let alone premium hatches. Yet Lexus found 2000 customers in a month that were not served by Audi, VW, or Mini and these customers were willing to pay a premium. Is BMW afraid sales of the F20 hatch would cannibalize Mini Sales or other BMW sales?

In the US, the BMW 1 series currently sells at the rate of 1000-1200 per month, and the BMW Z4 only sold just over 3800 (+300/month) last year.

Given these numbers, is it reasonable that BMW would be able to sell 500 F20 hatches in the US? 1000? 1500? At what point is it enough for BMW to bring the F20 to the US?

BMWNA learned a hard lesson with the anemic E36 318ti, but they learned the wrong one. BMW learned that people in the US don't like premium hatches. What they should have learned is that in the US, people don't like premium underpowered hatches.

Bring the F20 hatch to the US with the 2.0L Twinpower Four, and the 23d. With that, and Mini, BMW should continue to own well over half the premium hatch market in the US. Those two engines have plenty of power and efficiency to spare. The F20 would be well received here with these two engines on offer.

BMWNA, please bring these great cars the the US!

[crackberry]

Keep it camo'd up. It's ugly and we don't want to see it

[gy2011]

good car~~~so awesome~~

[pyrat]

dear Scott26, you promised me F20 reveal by June

[SCOTT26]

dear Scott26, you promised me F20 reveal by June

Teaser. Thanks to Autobild.
It is coming...

[nockenpaul]

The headlights look a bit strange IMO. BMW designers still like to polarize.

[tasseruglio]

HI,
i have a good news for the new 1 er.

I have just speaken with a frend that has the biggest BMW show-room in the city who i live.
2 days a go he went to Monaco, BMW head Quarters for a private presentation of the new 1er.
In this presentation he cudn't take pics.....
He tell me that the first pics of the new 1er will be on internet @ the end of this week, 5 of june!!!!!
He tall me also tha the new 1er is beatiful and in first wil be only 5p and in 2012 (april- march) will be also 3p.
The new central screen is beatiful!!! Is in the center of conkpit and is very big, borderless and seems a big i-phone....for the quality of resolution...

The new engine will be: 125d with twin -turbos with 220/230 hp
135i with 326 hp.
in the second time, @ the and of 2012 will be lunch the 1er x-drive......

Sorry for my english.....

STAY TUNED!!!!:happyan im:

[riguy]

Argh. Why couldn't they bring this to the states? This looks like it will be a winner! Especially that 125d...Lucky Europeans!