BMW continues winter testing of the F20 1-series 5-door hatchback. This is the first time we see a black model with less camouflage, showing its sculpted hood and showing premium wheels for the first time. The hood provides us an advance preview of the styling language we should expect to see on the next generation 1-Series and 3-Series.
From the first look, this is the most sculpted hood ever seen on a 1-Series (not hard with only 1 Generation), or even a 3-Series for that matter, and takes a tangential design direction from the F01 7-Series, F10 5-Series and even F25 X3 hood design. A new central column is now raised (whereas it is sunken by sharp lines on the F10), giving a very very sporty effect and is reminscent of the Fisker Karma.
Just a quick note before someone makes a comment about it. The headlights are not as massive as you may think they are from looking at the pictures. BMW has cleverly masked the headlights into a strange shape as an illusion, to make you think they are giant L shaped pieces. In fact, if you look closely you can see that these headlights are somethin more akin to the pieces you would see on the 5-Series GT.
The overall effect is too give the new 1-Series a much more upmarket elegant/sport visual appeal; I have to assume the same styling language will be seen on the other parts of the car that are still covered up. BMW has long talked about stepping up the quality and attention to detail on this car, as the 1-Series is expected to make a bigger part of the sales pie for the next generation.
The F20 1-series hatchback is expected to make its world premiere at the Frankfurt Autoshow in September (see:
http://www.bimmerpost.com/future-bmw/).
In usual BMW fashion, the Coupe body style (F22?) should arrive roughly 1 Year later, and would be expected as a 2013 model. BMW M will also have its hands at the new 1-Series and an M version should arrive 2 Years after the arrival of the hatchback this year. Rumors have been afloat as to whether the next generation 1-Series Coupe would indeed be spun off as its own series, presumably the 2-Series, which opens the door for the 1M to be renamed more properly as the M2.
Bonus photos of the previously spied red F20 prototype are also attached below.