BMW News (All news and spy shots here please)

[TopGearNL]

I hate the look of the 3 door, don't know why :bah:

[thepest]

And the new engines coming with the 3-door version:
116i - 115 hp
118i - 143 hp
120i - 170 hp
130i - 265 hp (unfortunatelly not the 272)

118d - 143 hp
120d - 177 hp !

[Just_me]

Originally Posted by TopGearNL I hate the look of the 3 door, don't know why :bah:

I love it, just look at this pic. Stunning!!

[Ghostbat]

^
Looks much better than the 4-door version but unfortunately it's still pretty ugly IMO.

[thepest]

I think it's great, especially with the face-lift now!
And really, that pic 2 posts above is showing it all, truelly cool!

[dutchmasterflex]

It's about damn time!

Looks great with 2 doors, much nicer than the 4 door. Although not many people like the 1-series, I'd love to own one a 130i coupe.. I just wouldn't want to pay for it.

Any word on when or if there will be a US release?

[pitfield]

It'snot thegreatest drive. An E90 is a muchbetter bet.

This is a reengineered Rover25 replacement don't forget.

[Just_me]

Latest M3 news!!!



At this moment we are currently in the photography and film shoot for the M3 Concept where we have been to Iceland and then currently in Dubai. the car is finished in Alpine White. The Dubai shoot involves the car undertaking possibly one of the worlds best roads and showcasing it's potential on the track. Whilst iceland is for scenery (cool-blue glaciers) and ambience.

The schedule goes like this : The production car will begin it's official photography and film shoot in April in the mountain regions of Spain and another location, where it will be a busy month as the next MINI variant undergoes photography in Tokyo. Prior to official release in July where it will appear amongst some other headliners at the BMW pavillion at the Frankfurt IAA in September , prior to European sales beginning before the close of of 2007 unless something happens.

As what I have been told the US release is in 2008 , It does not matter if you reckon the car is ready to launch as of now the early phases of marketing work commences as does the beginning of early production phases so that quality and error is retained and evaluated thoroughly. As I said work commences on the final areas of development and then work continues for adapting to other markets prior to the European market especially strict US legislation.

BMW are simply following the same idea as they had with the M5. Showcase ait as a Concept car build the anticipation levels watch the hysteria from afar and then introduce the production car.
The E60 M5 in europe had an intoduction a year later from the end of production of the E39 in July 2003.
Everything is on schedule.

****

The "production" car will have it's official media release in July with the final production car having it's international debut @ the IAA in Frankfurt in September . German and European sales are expected to begin shortly after which will then commence with the media release of the M3 Cabrio in November which might possibly debut at the Los Angeles show or the NAIS in January. US sales are expected to commence before the Spring .

Of course this is of course if everything runs to schedule in which delays may be inevitable if the development of a problem or delay appears. Although you are seeing almost finished cars on the streets , The development phase known as FEP continues right up to launch - The development programme for this car is very intensive it's a bit like a strict physical requirement for an elite military unit.

The new M3 in it's development has literally been to hell and back. The competition has now developed further and benchmarks such as the Aston Martin V8 Vantage and entry-mid level 911's have been assessed alongside the new M3.
Where you would never think they would be upagainst the previous M3 - This gives the clear impression of the strategic shift BMW have taken with the new M3 On which there is a clear reason why.

Keep the first week of March free in your diary

[inso]

[dutchmasterflex]

^ 1er Looks great in those shoes.

The Dubai shoot involves the car undertaking possibly one of the worlds best roads and showcasing it's potential on the track.

Looking forward to the M3 press photos.. I'm sure the road they speak of in Dubai is that dude's long ass drive way which is also a public road which winds through the mountains.

[schnell318]

So there won´t be a four door version... only Coupe and Cabrio :cry:

Originally Posted by Just_me Keep the first week of March free in your diary

[thepest]

Thanks for the info Just_me. I'm free in March

Can't wait.... It's going to be a hell of a car, I bet!

[TopGearNL]

Originally Posted by dani_d_mas The 3-door 1-Series doesn't look right IMO... there's something wrong, I don't know what may be they should have changed the styling a bit as Opel did with the 3-door Astra aka GTC, to differenciate it from the 5-door version

Thats exactly what I think, its looks weird

[ZfrkS62]

The 3door 1er looks alot like the E36 318ti. Given it's market, i can see why.

It was supposed to be in the US for 07 but i don't know what happened with that The E87 is in our diagnostic tester so there's a chance Canada has it (They have an E46 320i apparently as one made it's way to our dealer a couple weeks ago) so i dunno :bah:

[ae86_16v]

Originally Posted by schnell318 So there won´t be a four door version... only Coupe and Cabrio :cry:

Probably staggered releases.