At the upcoming Geneva Motor Show BMW will release the sporty three-door variant of the current 1 Series model which so far was available as a five-door only.

However, this will not be the only variant of BMW’s smallest model, here are the very first pictures of the future 1 Series Cabrio, taken during a short test drive in Munich’s city traffic. The prototype in the photos still has some BMW typical disguise on, yet clearly visible is the canvas top.

While the 1 Series sporty three door will be in the dealerships coming this summer, the convertible’s launch cannot be expected before at least a year from now.

BMW has unveiled the 2007/2008 BMW 1-Series three-door hatchback. The new car goes on sale this spring, and will be offered with five engine choices in Europe. It's not known if the three-door model will be offered in the United States, but coupe and convertible variants are expected in America in the coming years.
Technologies such as Brake Energy Regeneration, Automatic Start-Stop function, Electric Power Steering, lower rolling resistant tires, variable valve technologies, and High-Precision Direct Injection cut fuel consumption and emissions.

Model choices include the 130i model, with a 265 horsepower inline-six and a zero to 62 mph time of 6.0 seconds; the 120i with a 170 horsepower four-cylinder engine and a zero to 62 mph time of 7.7 seconds; the 118i with a 143 horsepower four-cylinder engine and a zero to 62 mph time of 8.7 seconds; the 120d with a 177 horsepower common-rail diesel engine and a zero to 62 mph time of 7.5 seconds; and the 118d with a 143 horsepower common-rail diesel engine and a zero to 62 mph time of 8.9 seconds.

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


BMW officials confirmed to WINDING ROAD 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.

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.