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BimmerCast 62 is all about Motorsport. We catch-up with Michael who’s just back from the first DTM race of the season. yes BMW is back after a 20 year hiatus in the premier Touring car racing series in the world. We go in detail about the race, the season and what it all means for BMW Motorsport.
In our eyes the1 Series Coupe has been a revelation. Since it’s introuction in the winter of 2008, the 135i has been seen by many as one of the last BMW products to stay true to the heritage of a small rear wheel driven two door. As the 3 Series has grown in size and weight from the E46 (the last classic 3 Series in many eyes) the 1 Series has remained as the lone product in offering the core tenants BMW has relied on for years. That’s not to say that the new F30 isn’t an exceptional car or that the current M3 isn’t dynamically incredible. Instead the current 1 Series harkens back to a simpler time that allowed for more driver involvement.
So you can imagine that we face the retirement of the current 1 Series coupe range with some trepidation. The next generation of small BMW coupes and convertibles will remain rear wheel drive of course but will change names (ditching the 1 Series nomenclature in favor of 2 Series) and grow slightly in size. And it goes without saying that will become more refined and offer a new range of luxuries and technical goodies. All good things on paper but, if history is our guide, some of that classic BMW soul may be in jeopordy. To quell (or support) that concern let’s take closer look at what to expect from the 2 Series that will debut next spring.
BMW themselves have released an interview with Senior Vice President BMW Group Design Adrian Van Hooydonk primarily about the new F20 1 Series. It’s an interview unfortunately with BMW’s terrible 1 Series European marketing wrapped around it but it’s interesting nonetheless.
While we’re warming to the new F20 we’re still not convinced it’s as successful as the new F30 3 Series in overall execution. Perhaps it doesn’t matter all that much since our US readers will never get a chance to see the car on US roads. But what about the coupe and convertible?
The 2 Series and the M2. They both represent the best of what’s new for BMW in the next decade and a return to form of the best of the 1 Series.
According to sources (and this recent Auto Express article) the M2 will pack a 350 hp turbo engine. However what’s unclear is whether it’ll be N55 based or M’s new tri-turbo. Both engines would have the same power with the tri-turbo getting noticeably better fuel economy. The latter should show up in the X3M.
Expect both a manual and DCT to be offered and suspension and brakes to be leveraged from the E92 M3. Expect more weight savings to be used given that the project will have much more time to fully develop.
In the late 1990s it became clear that BMW had to bring to market something smaller than the soon to be launch E46 3 Series. The answer came in 2004 with the E87 five door hatchback that was based on the forthcoming E90 3 Series architecture. The idea was rather simple. Base the car and other iterations on the E90 platform while de-contenting the interior and the technology offered. And of course that meant rear wheel drive.
It was the same formula that BMW employed for the 2nd generation F20 1 Series as well. However during the development of the car it became more obvious to BMW that it would have to take a different path for two reasons; increased fuel consumption requirements and the MINI.
As he did recently with the M3, BMW insider Scott26 has given us an inside look at BMW’s small car strategy. It’s mostly an update on previous information we’ve reported but it’s the best and most thorough we’ve seen. A couple things to note. Once again Scott confirms what other sources have told us, the Z2 roadster will almost surely be FWD. Secondly the 1 Series will include RWD hatches and FWD MINI based cars. Finally the 1 Series Coupe and Convertible will indeed be moved to the 2 Series nomenclature. And yes that means (as we suspected) we’ll likely see something called an M2.
But for those who want to read it in detail, here’s Scott26′s full run-down (as posted on GCF)
The new Premium Compact Class.
In order to make room for the new family of Front wheel Drive BMW’s. BMW are now locked in to seperate it’s core compact premium family.
BMW 1er frontDrive Family
City Compact
F.A.S.T. Family Activity Sports Tourer
Gran Turismo
Z2
Sharing architecture with the next MINI , The BMW entry models retain the 1er designation but will be identified by unique badging.
It’s a rumor that’s been around for years and now it looks like it may become reality for at least one BMW model line. According to a report in Autobild BMW will rename the 1 Series Coupe and Convertible the ’2 Series’. The idea is that it would help the F22 and F23 avoid confusion with the new family of FWD models also marketed under the 1 Series brand. It would also help in moving the cars slightly upmarket to correspond with a much higher level of premium options that will be available (similar to what BMW has done with the X6 over the X5).
BimmerFile is dedicated to bringing you the most interesting news, links and reviews related to the BMW brand and it's vehicles.
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.
We long for the days of the wave and for the days of roll-up windows. Yet we love the gadgets on the inside and the xenons on the outside.
In short, we can't get enough of BMWs. This is BimmerFile.
Sections: //M3\\, //M5\\, //M\\, BimmerCast, DTM, F22/F23 2 Series, Motorsport May 1st, 2012 No Comments 
