The Artist

Wow thats a super crappy post even though its your opinion..
you are more or less dissing the better half of this forum..
im almost urged to bad rep you on this one.. but i wont.. cause i think you are joking.. ( somewhat lol)

Curb Zone

 

klier

I really love it. I was unsure about the back in this first blurry pic that popped up yesterday, but after seeing these new shots, I must say that all my insecurity has been taken away.

I like the brakelight in the bootlid
I like the line from the side returning in the bootlid
I love the small ceases near the 135i badge (and the other side, but it's not really clear, we need high res shots!!!),
I now love the 'one piece' L shape rear lights
I like the M packge a lot.
I like the E46 M3 CSL style shaped bootlid

Harry Plopper

Have E30 in mind ... It was an entry model, yet the most sporty one ...

Now 3er is pushed more into luxury segment (and will be even more with the next generation 3er), so the entry & sporty role is passed to 1er.

128i will be the entry model ... A cheaper version of 328i ... For those who "can't afford 3er" or just like 1er shape more ... while 135i M-Sport will be the "performance bastard" ... Both will lure new customers to BMW showrooms ...

1er coupe is typical "back to the roots" move: offering small entry & performance oriented car within same series.



****

To Valkyrie: yes, I assume M1 would come with M-diff lock, stiffer body & suspension, M DCT, bigger brakes, etc. Hardcore performance.

klier

What I like most about the rear now is how wonderfully they continued the big cutline from the side all the way around the corner above the backlights into the bootlid

Osnabrueck

I'm mostly on board with this car's design now. Funny how I've changed my tune on the rear - kinda knew I would. Now I think the rear and side of this car are the its strongest points. I'm having a hard time viewing the front and interior objectively, because they're essentially carried over from the 1er hatch, and I'm predisposed against that connection.

I'm still left to wonder how this model will stagger-through with product updates. Will an all-new 1er coupe debut in just 4 years time? Or will this car limp on for a full 7 year product cycle?

If the 135i turns out to be a balls-out performer that hasn't suffered boardroom interference I could very well become a fan of this car...

Harry Plopper

I wonder about this LC strategy as well.



135i is fastest non-M coupe ever! Even faster than Z4 3.0si, 335i, 650i !!!
Back to the roots! The smallest car - the entry series - the most performance oriented.

Osnabrueck

Nice photo. Tell you what - They did one hell of a job with the front fascia on this car. Still wish the grille and lights from the CS1 were there. Oh well...

If it is indeed the fast lil' bastard we all hope it to be, then I'm pretty excited.

Sunny

The rear begs for a quad exhaust - hopefully the M1 will deliver that.

bmwownage

Wow, 5 pages of posts already since my last reply.. couldnt' read them all...
someone said how does the fact that the 135i and 335i uses the same engine disappoint me because it doesn't affect me... well, not much in this world affects me, i'm disappointed because it's not the way I wanted to be, but you're right, i dont' have a 335i and so it doesn't affect me..

Also the introduction of the 128i means the 130i will be gone?

Found it rather harsh that someone said people who said this car is ugly is tasteless/stupid etc. i dont' think the car is ugly, rear is a bit weird, hopefully i'm not regarded as tasteless or stupid.

Osnabrueck

The '30i cars have been expunged from BMW's 2008 model year lineup and replaced with '35i models. So yes, the 130i is a goner.

Rear of the car doesn't look funny to me anymore - especially in the context of the rear areo kit. I think it's pretty mature looking - maybe even right on the money.

Curb Zone