Declan

So what's the "E" code designations on this car now? The E81 is the hatchback. Is the coupe and cabrio also officially the E81 or something else?

Curb Zone

 

Harry Plopper

E81 = 1er 3dr hatch
E87 = 1er 5dr hatch

E82 = 1er/2er 2dr coupe
E88 = 1er/2er 2dr cabrio

vabboud

coule the E82/E88 be named say 2er in the US but 1er in europe?
which would be great for marketing (2002) in the US and gerat for a european tie with the now established 1er family
but that would create hell for international importers

Harry Plopper

I don't think double-badging will be used.

The "problem" is that US is seen as the main market for coupe & cabrio, while in Europe - where hatchbacks are way more popular - they will play insignificant role.

So ... US as main market leads to conclusion 2er badge would be more appropriate there due a marketing reference to a legendary 02-series (2002i).

Yet since both coupe & cabrio look very similar to 1er hatch - which is not sold in US, so not the case there - badging coupe & cabrio 2er could be seen as bad badge engineering - almost a farce.

I hope BMW will reveal the name for E82 & E88 (1er or 2er) together with official announcement E82 & E88 are on the way - which will happen on BMW press conference at Geneva Motor Show (in a chapter about growing 1er family - with emphasis on E81 3dr hatch).

vabboud

as per what you said, soemthing deep down leads me to believe that double naming is a possibility, and a serious one
why go through the trouble of marketing a new model (2er) when the 1er si selling like hot cakes in europe, especially if the coupe/cabrio will be amrginal in europe
and why spilling a lot of money on the intro of a whole enw segment when 02 already has its own afficionados in the US?

using 1er in europe paves the way for the second iteration to be badged 2er and play a more significant role, and using 2er in the US paves the way for the introductioon of a new crop of small I4 BMW's in the future, i.e. the 1er hatch in its declinations

of course i am no marketing strategist, a mediocre aspiring engineer is what i am at most, but still the idea rings a bell

dOmInIX

*1-Series Interior photos Leaked*







Source: - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Nikos120i

http://www.germancarzone.com/showpos...&postcount=149

Harry Plopper

E82 1er coupe caught "almost naked":

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Centurion

Oh snap. It's a mini E92, cute as hell.


Eni, will it be launched before new year?

Harry Plopper

Curb Zone