BMW 118i News

The new 1 will get slightly bigger and more refined to leave space for an all-new baby car - the 0 Series? - to slide in below it. The newcomer will introduce front-wheel drive to the BMW range and will also share a lot of its running gear with a smaller Mini starter car.The next 1 Series should go public before the end of this year, which is how Carparazzi could a car during testing in Germany. The thinly-disguised five-door prototype shows the prominent grille, sportier bumpers and production tail lights that will be used on the car, as well as the slimmer C-pillar design being used to improved side and rear visibility.Carparazzi confirms BMW's plan for another full range of 1 Series models, from three and five-door hatches to a coupe and convertible. There could also be a longer, two-door wagon-hatch model in the style of the upcoming Mercedes 'shooting brake'.Powerplants will be updated to boost power and cut emissions and fuel use, but Carparazzi still predicts a range of petrol and diesel engines from 1.4 to 3.0-litres in capacity - as well as a hybrid.

The spread of the dealer network aims to keep up with demand caused by a booming population and Australia's strong economy.  Within two years, BMW will see $40 million spent on new or refurbished outlets as it shoots for 50 national dealerships.These include a second dealership in Perth ($15 million), expanded Doncaster (Victoria) premises ($10 million), a North Shore Sydney franchise ($8 million) and a new dealer at Tweed Heads.  The Perth dealership, to be built this year by the existing franchisee, is in the city's expanding northern suburbs.BMW Australia managing director Stavros Yallouridis says the expansion reflects the mechandising concept that takes the product closer to the buyer.  "We are, to a degree, a product for the impulsive buyer," he says."We have to go to the buyer and that redefines the distribution of our products. In many cases, as we expand our products with smaller cars, we have to be in city areas that demand small cars in order to sell to our target market."Yallouridis says the car market was aiming for record highs and, in BMW's case, highlighted by the 1-Series, X1, 5-Series and 7-Series."The X3 comes in next year and there's the 1-Series hatch and coupe, so sales will expand further," he says.The Audi Centre in Perth is more than doubling its floor area, taking over a neighbouring property in the high-end car retail suburb of Osborne Park. The suburb also hosts Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lexus, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz.The additional building will accommodate the new 26-car showroom - effectively 2.5 times bigger than present - to display one of each of Audi's models.  Dealer principal David Collins says the investment of about $15 million was necessary."The customers demand it and we desperately need the space because of the growth in Audi sales," he says.  "In 2004 we had 120 new car sales. Now we have 1050."Audi's sales are higher than BMW's when you take out the SUVs.  "I've ordered 250 units of the A1 for 2011 because of demand."  Collins says the Q5 was "the most successful car I've ever been involved with".He says it reflects the growing trend of buyers seeking to downsize their cars yet retain quality and luxury.  BMW has recorded a 10.4 per cent national sales growth year-to-date and, with global sales this calendar year of 775,000, has surpassed Mercedes-Benz (735,000) and Audi (726,000).It has since January sold 1156 of its baby X1 SUV - now its third most popular single-body seller after the 3-Series (3326) and X5 (1955) - for 2 per cent of Australia's passenger-car market.Audi has 1.7 per cent of the car market, primed by sales year-to-date of 1458 A3s and 2521 A4s, and Mercedes-Benz has 2.6 per cent thanks primarily to its E-Class stranglehold of the $70,000-plus large luxury car sector and the robust 4242 C-Class sales.

The explosive growth of the BMW model range is about to be defused in Australia, with the line-up being trimmed to cut competition and duplication, making it easier for customers in showrooms.The plan is to have only three choices of any individual model, with two petrol engines and one diesel.The current list includes 36 individual models in the 3 Series sedan line-up ... without counting the coupe, convertible or station wagon.“We get a lot of questions about whetherwe have too many models,” BMW Australia managing director Guenther Seemann says.“I think we do have too many.”He believes BMW must cut the choices to streamline business, though he says there will still be all-new models in future — with the X6 four-wheel-drive and M3 sedan up next — asthe German company looks for customers.The work has begun, though there are a dozen individual BMW lines, from the baby 1 Series to the four-wheel-drive X5 and flagship 7 Series, with 50 official engine choices. BMW has 189 individual models on the list.“We've already begun tidying up. The 116i hatch has been removed from the range, there are the manuals in the 3 Series and one of the X3 manuals,” Seemann says.“In the 5 Series range, one of the V8s will go.I believe for each and every model line-up in the future, as we add models, we need two petrol and one diesel variant in each case. No more. We have so many different model lines, it is not practical or possible to display them all in a showroom.”He says it will take time to get things sorted, partly because there are so many models.“It will happen in the next two years. Globally, there are five petrol and five diesel engine choices. And that is just in the 3 Series range,” Seemann says. But there is definitely space for some additions, like the four-door M3 sedan.“We will bring the four-door version, but I do not know at what price. We have to price it lower than the M3 two-door.” 

The explosive growth of the BMW model range is about to be defused in Australia. The line-up is being trimmed to cut competition and duplication, making it easier for customers in showrooms.The plan is to have only three choices of any individual model, with two petrol engines and one diesel. The current list includes 36 individual models in the 3 Series sedan line-up . . . without counting the coupe, convertible or station wagon.“We get a lot of questions about whether we have too many models. I think we do have too many,” BMW Australia managing director Guenther Seemann says.He believes BMW must cut the choices to streamline business, though he says there will still be all-new models in future — with the X6 four-wheel drive and M3 sedan up next — as the German company looks for customers.The work has begun, though there are a dozen individual BMW lines, from the baby 1 Series to the four-wheel-drive X5 and flagship 7-Series, with 50 official engine choices. BMW has 189 individual models on the list.“We've already begun tidying up. The 116i hatch has been removed from the range, there are the manuals in the 3 Series and one of the X3 manuals,” Seeman says.“In the 5 Series range, one of the V8s will go. I believe for each and every model line-up in the future, as we add models, we need two petrol and one diesel variant in each case. No more. We have so many different model lines, it is not practical or possible to display them all in a showroom.He says it will take time to get things sorted, partly because there are so many models.“It will happen in the next two years. Globally, there are five petrol and five diesel engine choices. And that is just in the 3 Series range,” he says.But there is definitely space for some additions, like the four-door M3 sedan.“We are starting the business case. It looks good, I must say,” he says.“We will bring the four-door version, but I do not know at what price. We always follow the normal BMW pattern, where a two-door is more expensive than a four-door. We have to price it lower than the M3 two-door.” 

After talking with leading British executives of the car company, it's still a 50-50 proposition.It is confirmed that Jaguar design chief Ian Callum has produced a highly secret design for a small Jag.However, Jaguar director of programs Mick Mohan believes there is no room in Jaguar for another model.“Jaguar is a three-model brand; that's about all it can stand,” he said.With the launch of the XF, Jaguar now has four models but Mohan believes the X-Type will be phased out about 2010. “There will be no small car. It's a very competitive segment,” he said.“We can't compete in every part of the luxury sector. We need to pick our spots of where we are to compete.”However, that is not necessarily the opinion of Jaguar chief financial officer David Smith, who flew into Melbourne this week for the funeral of UK Jaguar Land Rover chief Geoff Polites.He believes the sale of Jaguar Land Rover to Indian company Tata could open a lot of options and believes a BMW 1 Series-sized Jag has some merit.“The Jaguar design team has a lot of ideas,” he said. “I think that is one of a number of interesting options.”He also thinks there is room for an F-Type — a modern interpretation of the iconic E Type sports car.“But no decision has been made yet,” he said.Here there is some agreement with Mohan declaring that Jaguar needs to “get some sporty character back into our products."He suggested Jaguar could go the way of outgoing owner Ford by moving into smaller capacity turbo engines.“We will work very closely still with Ford, so we will keep a close eye on what they will do.”However, don't bet on the X-Type being phased out, either.Smith says there has been no decision made yet. 

The four seater is due in Australia mid-next year, according to BMW Australia spokesman Toni Andreevski.And it might be simultaneously rolled out locally with the 1 Series Coupe that was also exclusively revealed in CARSguide last month.The latter is due for its world debut in the next fortnight.“It depends on availability,” Andreevski says of the models, which, unlike some BMW lines available here, will both be manufactured in Germany.“There is nothing comparable that has rear-wheel-drive and perfect balance front to back. This will be the real driver's choice.”The 1 Series is likely to be priced between $60,000 and $80,000.“Historically we've owned that segment and we can expect buyer interest in a BMW coupe or convertible priced there to be strong.”A choice of five engines will be offered globally, including a diesel which is unlikely to reach Australia, at least in the near future.Of more importance, though is the range-topping 135i. Sharing the acclaimed bi-turbo 3.0 inline six first seen in the 335i and due nest in the 1 Series Coupe, it will lead the local lineup and account for as much as 50 per cent of the model line's sales if the 3 Series equivalent is any guide.Of the three other engines - the atmo six-cylinder 125i, the four-pot 120i and 118i  - BMW Australia is likely to take the first two.With a claimed 0-100km/h time of 5.6 seconds, the 225kW/400Nm 135i is a good half second quicker even than Porsche's superb Boxster S roadster. European Union testing posits combined cycle fuel consumption of 9.4 litres per 100km.It has a modified M Aerodynamics Package from the M Sports Package as standard, which includes front skirt, door sills, rear skirt are identical in their details to those on the forthcoming coupe. The M theme continues beneath with sports suspension and a high performance braking system as standard.There are two standard colours available in the soft-top range, classical black or beige. It can be optioned in an exlcusive anthracite with silver effect.While folding hardtops are the fashion, the canopy of the 1 Series - unlike the 3 Series which was launched earlier this year - is of a fabric interwoven with fine shiny metallic fibres. The canopy folds open or closed in 22 seconds and can be operated at road speeds of up to 40km/h.Even with the lid folded in, a useful 240 litres luggage space is claimed.BMW make much of its sun reflective technology, which reduces the heating effect of UV rays on the leather upholstery by sunlight by way of deflective colour pigments worked into the material.The 1 Series is equipped with a rollover sensor, which automatically activates rollover bars should it detect the possibility of capsize. It simultaneously activates the front seat belt tensioners and the head thorax air bags.Andreevski says that BMW's already dizzying array of variants, far from confusing buyers, is working to the marque's advantage.“The main focus is identifying the customer's needs and demands. We're set to reach our target of 16,800 for 2007.”

In his 15 years at BMW, the Munich car maker's US-born head of design has overseen the creation of some of the industry's most admired and imitated, if controversial, cars.