What do they say about imitation?

[Blauweisser]

On my bike ride this morning, I saw one of the new A-class Mercedes hatches. Looked like some comedian had glued a Mercedes grill on a 1-series hatch. Looks like MB designers are running out of ideas. Whatever you say about Chris Bangle, it seems that no car company can avoid putting Bangle-esque creases on their bodywork.

[Linwe]

Really? They look nothing alike and I actually think the Aclass looks smashing. Creases increase rigidity so you can't say Bangle patented those lines... If anything you could say the Volvo V40 looks like a warped less pretty version of the Aclass. But like BMW? No way.

[P'cisT]

Besides the overall "hatch" shape, they don't look the same too me.

[Alpine*]

disagree

[John_01]

If BMW fixed the front lights, I think the F20 would be the better looking of the two.

[Prodigy.]

If you put the BMW rear and the Merc front together would be a awesome looking car imo.

[TS135i]

The rear of that M135i is about the best a hatch is going ever going to look, can't say the same for the front.

[JB4-335]

The new 1 series hatches look horrible and that goes for the M135i also. The new Merc looks great compared to the 1ers.

[Linwe]

Originally Posted by Prodigy 72

If you put the BMW rear and the Merc front together would be a awesome looking car imo.

Agree, that combo would be killer. The Merc front looks agressive and awesome but the butt looks messy and Koreanish. The bimmer front is just so unfortunate. The F30 front is soso good, why not keep the same design language?

[bmw1racer]

Hmm, seems like M-B is slapping that ginormous thee-pointed star on all of their car's grilles.

[david.orr]

I think they are quite different and suspect one of the first aftermarket products would be the tail lights. They should have been darkened or smoked. The front 3 pointers are just too big imo and they have another badge above it

[Zuzu]

I like..

[bmw1mc]

Originally Posted by Zuzu

I like..

+1 pocket rocket

[Drawn05]

A high strung 2.0l turbo 4cyl AWD Hatchback? Mercedes has re-invented the WRX for the euro crowd.

Doesnt seem that interesting to me. I would rather pay to have a supercharged s85 put in my 1er.

[BrokenVert]

Are you comparing it to the E8X? Because the current 1er isn't a Bangle design. The E82 and E88 were the last Bangle era cars

[Alpine*]

Originally Posted by Drawn05

.....
Doesnt seem that interesting to me. I would rather pay to have a supercharged s85 put in my 1er.

Talk about over capitalisation, fine if you have cash to burn come resale time.

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by Zuzu

I like..

Overdone boy racer... No thanks.

[Alpine*]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

Overdone boy racer... No thanks.

Agree on a white car, black with aero will be way more subtle IMO. Looks like the 3 oldest guys have responded liking it, old boy racer then maybe hahaha

[gazz]

Another old guy here - Style wise I suspect it's freshness will evaporate into the crowd fairly quickly. I can't see much in the design that grabs me, the front could be any small Merc and the rear is generic. Ho hum.