New 1-series pics released!

[Mustangfan2003]

[cawimmer430]

There is a car in Japan that apparently gives it owners BlowJobs. 

[cawimmer430]

It just occurred to me.... 

[2o6]

I don't understand the hate at all.

[cawimmer430]

I don't understand the hate at all.

2012 BMW 1-Series = FUGLY

1976 Plymouth Volare = DESIGN MASTERPIECE


That's the gist of things. 

[Laconian]

OK, that's like three Volare trollposts in an hour. Stop it.

[cawimmer430]

OK, that's like three Volare trollposts in an hour. Stop it.

In an hour? More like in ten minutes! 

Guinness Book of Records, here I come! 

[SJ_GTI]

I don't understand the hate at all.

I don't think it looks that different. Decent looking car, although awkward for a hatch. I am expecting the coupe to be nice, but we will see.

[MexicoCityM3]

On a positive note, the new 1 hatch has basically no weight gain over the previous one, which I think bodes extremely well for the weight of the next 3 (the 1 & 3 share platforms)

According to BMW official euro specs, the new 120d is actually lighter than the previous car.

The most weight gain is in the 118i which gains all of 20 kilos (45 pounds).

When they gat out the more powerful 4 banger turbos into the 1 hatch they will outrun and possibly outhandle the previous 130i.

[cawimmer430]

The most weight gain is in the 118i which gains all of 20 kilos (45 pounds).

The 118i is like the scapegoat of the 1-Series range. All the nasty stuff happens to it. 

[cawimmer430]

So I checked out the new 1-Series today at BMW Welt.  I had about five minutes of seating time inside the new 1er because I arrived at BMW Welt a bit late. But before I could take some shots they locked up the cars because they were closing down.


What I Like:

1) Improved interior. Smaller panels gaps, better materials compared to mine. Not that I really care. I drive my 118i all the time and I could care less about how the interior looks or feels. Ergonomics are the same as the current one - excellent. Instruments are simply styled and easy to read just like in mine. I like that.

2) Side/Rear profile are decent. Decent because they literally look the same as the current model. Not to bad.

3) Improved solidity feel. The new model feels better built and more solid. I'm not complaining about mine being cheaply made, but the new model just feels better from a purely "feel it" point of view.

4) The new 118i engine seems really powerful (I think it has 170-hp, to lazy to look it up) and improved fuel economy. I hope the gas mileage is good. The mileage in my 118i is a joke. I've never gotten close to the BMW fuel economy claims, even if I baby it. 8-9 L / 100 km (for mine) is a joke in this day and age. My dads Mercedes E350 CGI regularly averages 7 L / 100 km and that's a nearly 300-hp V6 2-ton car!




What I Hate:

1) The Front. Hideous. FUGLY. God I just hate those enlarged kidney grilles but those headlights just take the cake. Ugly. To big. Ever heard of a "Beluga Whale"? Yeah, this is one. Later when I walked back to where I parked my 118i I reflected on how handsome and decent the front of that car looked compared to its replacement.

2) Rear occupant space has marginally improved. The transmission tunnel is still very wide and takes up valuable space. This car really should be FWD because it means more leg space for rear occupants. Who cares about this BMW & Driver track driving bullshit anyway? I spoke to a buddy who works at BMWs engine development department and he said the 3rd generation 1er (the model replacing THIS car in a few years) will very likely be FWD. The logic behind is that BMW is questioning why they should produce an expensive RWD compact car when 80% of owners thought it was FWD. It shows that people just don't care to much about which wheels are being driven by the engine.


The only two shots I took with. I used my SB-900 on top with a stroboscopic flash for effect testing purposes...

[sportyaccordy]

Who cares about this BMW & Driver track driving bullshit anyway?

Apparently your family did, as you guys bought one over the treasure trove of better FWD cars available (even the B-Class)

Just like how you complain about cars having too much power when your dad has not one but TWO 300HP plus gasoline Benzes. So if anything you better than anybody understand why people buy the stuff you complain about

[cawimmer430]

Apparently your family did, as you guys bought one over the treasure trove of better FWD cars available (even the B-Class)

Eh, RWD wasn't even a consideration when my sister opted for the 1er. My sister considered a bunch of cars, all of which were FWD (Opel Corsa, Alfa Romeo 147, Renault Megane, MINI Cooper) and only two RWD cars: a used BMW 3er Compact and the BMW 1er 5-Door. In the end the 1er came across as the "best deal" because of the best quality, best build quality and an attractive price from the dealership. RWD had nothing to do with the purchase. In fact my sister has no idea what "RWD" is.

Just like how you complain about cars having too much power when your dad has not one but TWO 300HP plus gasoline Benzes. So if anything you better than anybody understand why people buy the stuff you complain about

1) The E350 CGI was bought used. It was a good deal because of all the features in it that my dad now is finding out he's never using. My dad would still have bought the car if it was an E220 CDI. It just happened to be an E350 CGI. And I'm not complaining since the gas mileage it delivers is AWESOME.

2) The 500SL is rarely driven these days. It's only registered during the summer months and used for short journeys under 30 km when my dad drives it to a pub for a drink etc. In fact my dad is thinking of selling it. I'm not interested in the car at all. Would I want to keep it? No. I have no use for it. It's a classic in the making but my dad doesn't want to keep up with garage costs. He's owned his dream car, he's had his fun, now he's thinking of selling it and moving on.

[Onslaught]

I'm going to need to see this in person before I can say what I really think.

[cawimmer430]

I'm going to need to see this in person before I can say what I really think.

I don't think it will make it across the Atlantic.

The rear and side profile are ok, pretty similar to the current model. The front is the part of the car that just sends shivers down my spine. Ugly.

[Onslaught]

I'll have to fly out to German just to look at it then.

[Northlands]

I'm going to need to see this in person before I can say what I really think.

I don't like the photos, but sometimes it's an entirely different experience in person. I've made the mistake a few times.

[cawimmer430]

Well the new 1er actually does look better in the photos.

Except the front. I don't think any photo or seeing it in person can change your mind about the front of that car.

[Onslaught]

I don't like the photos, but sometimes it's an entirely different experience in person. I've made the mistake a few times.

I couldn't stand the pictures of the RX-8. And then when I saw one I liked it more. I wasn't in love with it but I liked it.
This car could be like that.

[sportyaccordy]

I hope they use this opportunity to clean up the coupe

[Morris Minor]

Good God, it looks awful. Looks like BMW's rivals have planted a mole in its design studios.