BMW 1-Series

New 1-Series Coupe hits road

The countdown has begun to the launch of one of the most eagerly anticipated new BMW coupes ever..

Auto Express Car Reviews

Black roof of the new Coupé hints at the forthcoming 1-Series cabrio which is due to arrive in 2008.

By Dan Strong

28th March 2007

Spied testing outside the manufacturer's Munich headquarters, the new 1-Series Coupé is expected to debut this summer, before going on sale in the autumn. The two-door follows the styling first revealed by the daring CS-1 concept car, which was originally unveiled in 2002.

Although it will share much of its engineering with the 1-Series hatchback, the new rear-wheel-drive Coupé promises a distinct shape all of its own. As well as the obvious addition of a boot, the two-door will also receive new-look front lights and a unique radiator grille to set it apart.

Inside, the car will get an updated dashboard, complete with BMW's iDrive cabin control system. Under the bonnet, there's the choice of a range of engines almost completely derived from the hatchback. That means entry-level 116i-badged cars will come with a 115bhp four-cylinder petrol motor, while top-of-the-range 130i models will feature a 3.0-litre 265bhp six-cylinder unit.

At first, only one diesel powerplant will be offered, the 2.0-litre 120d, which delivers 165bhp and returns around 50mpg. This will eventually be joined by a 122bhp 1.8-litre variant, badged 118d. However, despite enthusiasm for the new model, it's worth bearing in mind that development of the Coupé has taken a lot longer than originally anticipated. This is because the new two-door has also been designed to share its chassis with a forthcoming cabriolet, due later in 2008.

Aimed at cars such as the next generation Volkswagen Golf and revised Audi A3, it's estimated that prices for the 1-Series Coupé will start from around £16,500.

Black roof of new Coupé hints at the forthcoming 1-Series cabrio which is due to arrive in 2008. autoexpress.co.uk Driver Power Special Issue exclusive