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BMW Source Confirms GTI-Killing 135i For U.S. Market



BMW officials confirmed at a corporate event this week that the BMW 1-series will come to our market, and sooner than we originally thought. While official company statements have said the 1-series will be here “within two years,” a source within the company said that’s an overstatement. On the contrary, the 1-series will be announced for our market before the end of 2007. It seems at the moment that the announcement will come this year and sales should start early in 2008.

Perhaps even bigger than this news is the fact that the 1-series will debut in our market with the company’s fabulous new twin-turbo, 3.0-liter inline-6. This is the engine found in the new BMW 335i coupe and convertible, featuring piezo direct injection and not a whiff of turbo lag. Also coming to our market will be the company’s newest naturally-aspirated 3.0-liter inline-6.

1-series cars in our market will be two-door versions only. It’s important that we stress the word “versions” when describing the 1-series in our market, as our source confirmed there are up to 15 different concepts in Munich under discussion. For the U.S. market, the company would like to get a quick read on the viability of the car’s acceptance and then deploy one or two more models based on the same idea. In other words, the 135i and 130i could launch in two-door hatchback forms and soon thereafter we’re likely to see a two-door convertible and two-door sedan with a proper trunk.

This is the point where you’re likely to say: “Okay, a small two-door BMW sedan with powerful engines. Do I smell a 2002 revival?”

Yes, you do.

But you’ll smell it in form, only, not in engine size. A four-cylinder BMW is not scheduled for our market until, according to our source, BMW “does a proper turbocharged four-cylinder engine.” Until that time, we’re likely to see 1-series models in our market with sixes only. Pricing for the car will have to fall smack dab between the 3-series and MINI. The pricing differential in the two six-cylinder engines described above is $5,000 dollars, so expect that same ratio for the 1-series models

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Marty Howard
2011 NASA SE Factory Five Challenge Champion
Track Events Logistics Coordinator - TZC/THSCC
2007 Factory Five Challenge Car.
http://www.mh-motorsports.com

Finally, there will be a proper RWD coupe for under $30,000.

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2010 Honda Fit Sport
Couple of bicycles

I see these 1 series often when I go to Germany nice looking car. Didn't try one yet, I had an Audi A3 the last time and it was fun to drive.
They need to bring the 4 door ( 5 door ) here also. It will make a nice car to replace Kathy 4 door Civic.

Patrice

Ahem!

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Art McDonald
Premier Amateur #518
2008 Dishman Cup
Pivot Cone Snob

Rodney is a waxer (but in a good way)

Sorry Art. The Mustangs just don't do it for me. Very nice cars in their own right just not for me.

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2010 Honda Fit Sport
Couple of bicycles

Mustang
Pros:
-Sound
-Not engineered by germans

Cons:
-Not a lot of storage

BMW
Pros:
-Hatch for lots of space (will hold lots of vasoline)

Cons:
-Engineered by germans

I'll take the stang...

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2001 Honda S2000 - SOLD
2012 Boss 302
2003 BMW 330i