Below are the official BMW AG photos of the upcoming 1 series new iDrive system. In addition to the new controller, the current pop-up screen has exited the dash in favor of a new wider and higher resolution (1280X480 to be exact) fixed screen. The system will also feature a 80 GB hard disk and brand new menu system as previously discussed for the 3 and 7 models.
This new Professional navigation system will allow for a full-screen map display and additional features such as travel and route planners.
These changes have been confirmed for most markets outside the US. Click on the “link” tab to view at a higher resolution.
(I apologize for the slow load times as I did not resize them appropriately)
As we reported awhile back the 2009 1 Series will indeed get the thoroughly revised iDrive. Bringing it in line with the 3, 5, and 7 series, the 2009 1er will also feature a larger 1024px screen that gives a traditional (in the BMW sense) split view and offers much more screen real-estate than previously available. You can check out pics below.
We have obtained the September 2008 product marketing guide for the UK. In this guide it states a good deal of information about the upcoming release of option 609; BMW Professional Multimedia Navigation system. This document also confirms that in addition to the newly designed 7 series the 1er and 3er will also feature the new system from September onwards.
Last week we mentioned many of these iDrive features from the experiences of those who had access to the system in testing, but now we can offer up the official information.
Over the past few days we have confirmed upcoming features from official BMW announcements originating outside of the US; first the DCT in the 3er coupe (BMW Australia) and now the new iDrive (BMW UK).
While this information does not definitely mean the US or other markets will be receiving these options we have been hearing from other sources to expect these options in the Fall. BMW would need a really good reason not to offer them to its largest market in the US especially with the upcoming mid cycle refresh/ LCI (Life Cycle Impulse/ “Facelift”).
When we last reviewed the BMW 135i in February the car had yet to go on sale in the US and there were numerous questions about everything from design and packaging to performance. What we learned with that initial drive is that the 135i delivered well enough in the areas of performance to negate any niggling design or packaging issues. However that was over the course of a day in and around some of the best roads Northern California has to offer. Our question this time around; how would the 135i fare through the rigors of a week in Chicago.
Our Montego Blue 135i came equipped with almost every option available. The most notable were the Sport package, Premium package and the 6-speed Automatic Transmission. The Sport package consists of just a few options on the 135i since the car comes standard with a M developed suspension, aero-kit and unique steering rack. However the thick, perforated M steering, shift knob and ebrake handle that come on the package add some subtle yet noticeable improvements to the touch-points drivers interact with the most. The Premium pack delivers leather, auto wipers, power seats w/lumbar support (a surprisingly nice addition), auto dimming mirrors along with some nice touches like the power folding mirrors and exterior door lighting. While I would consider all of it purely a luxury from an enthusiast point of view, it can be hard to pass up considering the cost of leather alone.
According to Auto News via our friends over at AutoBlog Karmann may be up for sale sooner than later. Karmann is a German coach builder that also happens to produce the top for the BMW 1 series convertible. Audi had pulled their contract for the since departed A4 Cab earlier in the year disrupting a much needed source of income.
It is a family run business and they are currently weighing all of their options. The workforce has been slashed by 500 already and 1000 of the 5000 workers are slated to get cut as well in order to keep the company afloat.
The convertible roof business has been steady (partly thanks to the 1) but the real issue is in the vehicle assembly for automakers. They operate much like Magna does for BMW in producing vehicles via contract. Cars that have recently been produced by the company include the Audi A4 Cab, and the MB CLK. They also assemble kits and produce chassis.
Part of the reason for the decrease is the fact they basically designed the Chrysler Crossfire from the ground up, and needless to say that was not a huge hit.
Karmann for years produced many VW products, from the cabrio Beetle and Ghia to the much aclaimed Corrado. The BMW 635 CSI was also produced in significant numbers by the company.
What will the sale of the company mean for BMW is still up in the air, but hopefully it will not impact the production of the 1er roof.
Last month we broke the news to the world that there was a new iDrive on the horizon for most of vehicles in the BMW lineup. This was met with some skepticism. As sources have continued to verify it there is very little doubt that it will indeed happen sooner than later.
What we did not know was the total package. One of our sources indicated that the car would have a hard disk and a system from Harmon Becker but we were unable to confirm this information at that time. Time has rolled on and our good friend, Jonathan Spira, has confirmed some of the same information. He has acquired information that essentially has spilled the beans on much of the up coming iDrive.
We still are a bit puzzled by the hard drive allotment; 10GB for a phone book? All in all this sounds to be a much improved system when you also consider the fact it will also feature the new controller. As we know all too well sources sometimes give you bits and pieces of information and you have to sift through them, we commend this effort and can at least agree that the system will feature a hard disk; we know this from the interior of the F01 7 series as there is only one slot! The details may still not be finalized and changes are happening regularly so the system we will eventually see may be a bit different. Information we have obtained indicates that there will be a multimedia showing of the new iDrive around the launch of the F01/02 on 07.07.08.
If you haven’t noticed we tend to review new MINIs and BMWs in two phases. The first is at the press launch where we’re invited to drive the cars on predetermined roads and in some cases tracks. While this opportunity is a great way to allow a first drive in the cars before their release, it’s often not enough time to thoroughly review it. Hence the second phase where we get a car for a week for a full test. That means we commute in it, head for the twisties in it and about anything else you can imagine to give us the best information possible for a review.
Last year’s test of the then new r56 on the Dragon was an ideal way to get to know the car and to form some long lasting opinions on it. This year we’ll be testing the Clubman MCS in slightly different circumstances. It’ll be a road trip around the midwest with two to three people with luggage and open road.
As we indicated a few days ago (we sat on it for a while as per a request from a source) BMW would be utilizing engines similar to the four cylinder turbo specifically utilized in the John Cooper Works MINI Cooper S. Weeks ago we discussed the 7 series will be offering a hybrid. Today it was all made official:
BMW to use engines jointly developed with PSA in BMW brand cars
05.06.08, 1:32 PM ET
FRANKFURT (Thomson Financial) - Bayerische Motoren Werke AG. will use the four-cylinder engines it has jointly developed with French carmaker PSA in BMW brand cars, chief executive Norbert Reithofer said in a pre-release of his interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
He said the future generation of the BMW 1 Series will be fitted with these four-cylinder engines.
The report said BMW had previously intended to use these engines only in the MINI brand cars.
Reithofer also disclosed the new generation of the BMW 7-Series, which will be launched this year, will be fitted with a new hybrid engine.
Another solid article by the folks at Edmunds. Instead of focusing on trying to find a competitor to the 135i they simply matched it up with it’s big brother the 335i and the previous generation M3. All cars I might add that are on my 2009 shopping list. Here’s an excerpt:
Considered by most editors to be the best-of-both-worlds compromise between the larger 335i and the harsher M3, the 135i is the perfect package in many ways. On the tightest, twistiest roads, the 135i is unquestionably the car to have. Offering the perfect combination of nimbleness, suspension compliance and tractable power delivery, it is easily the most rapid car over mountain roads.
The campaign seeks to reassure potential buyers that the new model is indeed a “pure BMW” despite being smaller and less expensive. The ads are the result of a collaboration between two agencies: GSD&M Idea City in Austin, Tex., part of the Omnicom Group, and Dotglu in New York, part of the Kirshenbaum Bond & Partners division of MDC Partners.
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We believe in the old school BMW ownership experience. We believe in garage nights with a six pack and some friends. We believe in 2002s, in E30 M3s and E34 540s with the 6 speed. We believe in progress in both design and engineering but we haven't lost sight of what made the brand and its products great all those years ago. And yes, we believe in the manual transmission.
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Sections: E81/82/E87 1 Series, Official News, Technology Jul 20th, 2008 3 Comments 
