Automotive News reports 1 Series will come as coupe and convertible

[bryan@mwerks]

I just picked up today's issue of Automotive News and there is a credible story about the 1 Series that seems to concur with what Windinng Road published earlier. It's written by Diana Kurylko, who I've been on several press trips with. She always sits very close to the executives at dinner.

Apparently on the long-lead trip for the new 3 Series convertible, she spoke with Klaus Borgmann, who is in charge of the 1 Series project. He's German, which explains why he was so loose-lipped.

Here is what she got out of him:

"The United States will get a coupe and a convertible...BMW does not plan to sell [3-door or] 5-door hatchback in the US."

So, after all the bluffing, it appears the coupe is viable.:headbang:

[Brookside]

One word...
Reithofer

[ibn]

i really wanted a hatch.

with the success of the vw gti, and with volvo introducing the c30, i really thought bmw would jump into the mix.

[bryan@mwerks]

Just got off the phone with one of my BMWNA contacts and he begrudgingly admitted that Diana more or less got the straight dope on the American 1 Series.

Also, it doesn't sound like the 1 Series convertible will be shown at Geneva right now, just the 3-door (and the new M3 "concept")

[Harold]

Thanks for sharing the info.

This goes right along with what Scott has been saying all along.

[bum944]

Although I wouldn't mind his/her coupe/convertible for the wifey and I, I could really use the extra utility of the the 3-door "hatch". The car is pretty small. I've seen them in Turkey.

[spudw]

I agree with some that the 3-door would be a welcome addition, but I couldn't be happier to hear that the coupe is coming...

[Brookside]

Originally Posted by Harold

Thanks for sharing the info.

This goes right along with what Scott has been saying all along.

Yep- he's on target.
I think part of the mixup between what we (N/A) get and what we don't get was mitigated by the recent change-over of CEO's at BMW.
New CEO means change and a complete review of current and future plans.

Obviously N/A was slotted all along for the cabrio-but the coupe's aspiration, I think, was sealed when Reithofer came on board.

Remember, Reithofer isn't a bean counter, he's an engineer trained in management. He ran the Spartanburg BMW plant so he is familiar with American culture.
My own speculation is that we'll see a lot of spin-offs from the 1-series architecture either off the current platform or the next complete redesign....almost surely a Z2 and crossover coupe which will replace, to some degree, the (N/A) unavailablity of the 1-series 3-door hatch.

[Declan]

Give it to us NOW!! I'm just happy to hear the car will be coming soon.