The BMW 1-Series Saloon Is Here, But You Can't Buy One
We’ve been expecting a saloon version of BMW’s 1-series hatchback for a while now, and at last it’s here. Except ‘here’ perhaps isn’t the right word: it’ll be built exclusively for the Chinese market, so if you were hoping for a dinky version of the 3-series and live elsewhere, you’re out of luck. Instead, you’ll have to wait for the anticipated but as yet unconfirmed 2-series Gran Coupe.
So, what do we know about this piece of forbidden fruit? Very little, as the press release isn’t what you’d call revealing. However, a BMW UK spokesperson did confirm that it’s riding on a cut-down version of the existing 1-series hatchback’s platform, and said that it’s likely to receive a range of four-cylinder and six-cylinder petrol engines. So it’ll be rear-wheel drive, contrary to previous reports of it running on the 2-series Active Tourer/Mini platform and therefore being front-wheel drive.
We also know that it’s been developed by BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd, a joint venture between BMW and Chinese firm Brilliance Auto. It’ll be built in China alongside locally built versions of the 3-series, 5-series, X1 and 2-series Active Tourer.
As well as a lack of details, there also isn’t any additional imagery on top of the front three-quarter shot at the top of the page. So, in the absence of more pictures, here’s a rather dashing imagining of a ‘BMW M1 Sedan’ by prolific renderer X-Tomi Design. It won’t happen, but hey - there’s no harm in dreaming.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
Well it actually just is an even cheaper and smaller 2 series
Isnt the 2 series just a sedan 1 series - in the same way the 4 series is the old 3 series coupe?
We will probably drive it in the next Need for Speed or Forza xD
Good news is I do.
But I have one question, if BMW and Brilliance Auto come together, what would the quality be like?
Really well engineered chintzyness.
A polished turd
a rather polished klutzy turd
i hope they will stick with RWD platform
They won’t. Next 1-series will be based off the Mini.
I’m still waiting for American car culture to go all CDM. Maybe this’ll be the tipping point…
hehehehe.
Nope.
Pretty sure they’ll release it in India and other developing nations like these as the mentality, as an Indian I know, suvs and sedans are considered way premium than hatchbacks or wagons.
If not a direct release, it may come as a second-hand import. Lots of cars in Bangladesh (where I’m from originally) were originally in Japan and there are companies that buy these cars second hand and refurbish them before exporting it to Bangladesh. This is why you’d see some people commuting to work in a bugeye WRX and in the driving seat are their personal driver.
I concur. (Being an Indian my self) along with the way suvs and sedans are looked at, the brand is also something that gets weightage here. People here will consider this as a baby 3.
As long as it’s RWD I guess.
Even if it won’t be available in Europe, I’m happy BMW will stick with the FR layout.
Sim simma
I have 3 dollars to buy this bimma.
china? NNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO WWHHYY IINN CCHHIINNAA HAVE YOU SEEN THE TOP GEAR EPISODE WHERE THEY GO TO CHINA AND ALL OF THE FAKE JUNKY CARS THEY HAVE NONONONONONONONONONONO WWHHYY TTHHEE BBMMWW WHY NOT THE TOYOTA PRIUS????????
Bro,I’m in hk
Chinese cars aren’t that bad, besides Japanese cars started off as cheap rip offs and now look at where they are