Auto blog

BMW reveals Concept Compact Sedan in Guangzhou

While our eyes were fixed on Los Angeles, BMW turned its attention to Guangzhou, China, where the German automaker unveiled the Concept Compact Sedan. The show car envisions a Bavarian rival to the likes of the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class and Audi A3 sedan. Munich released little in the way of technical details. Instead, the Concept Compact Sedan is all about the design. Relative to its form, the show car rides on a long wheelbase, with the wheels pushed to the corners, and a greenhouse set back behind a long hood. The details are distinctly Bimmer, from the signature double-kidney grille to the Hofmeister kink in the C-pillar. The horizontal lines of the front and rear fascias are designed to maximize the vehicle's visual width, and the muscular design integrates touch-sensitive door handles below the swage line for a cleaner look. All that is rendered in liquid metal bronze paint, offset by polished aluminum brightwork and 20-inch split-spoke alloys. Geared towards the "life of a generation of youth in China," the interior is designed around the driver, but also seeks to maximize rear-seat space despite the vehicle's compact footprint. The horizontal treatment continues inside to give the impression of space, with upscale materials like three-tone Nappa leather, open-pore wood, and brushed aluminum trim with orange accents and ambient lighting. All the auxiliary surfaces are controlled by touch panels on the steering wheel, center stack, center console, and door handles. There's a panoramic roof, a head-up display for the driver, and an 8.8-inch screen in the dashboard. The sum total is a compelling preview of what a four-door addition to the 1 Series and 2 Series could look like. And to our eyes, it looks like it would be just as home on American roads as it would be in China, Europe, or anywhere else for that matter. Check it out in the high-res image gallery above and the details in the press release below. BMW Concept Compact Sedan. Sporty, elegant, exclusive – the perfect statement-maker. 20.11.2015 Munich/Guangzhou. The BMW Group has chosen Auto Guangzhou 2015, one of the largest international motor shows in China, to present a very special new development to the global public: the company's vision of a four-door sedan for the compact segment. "The BMW Concept Compact Sedan reveals the potential we see in a compact sedan," says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design.

BMW 2 Series Coupe priced from $33,025* ahead of Detroit debut

BMW is definitely going to have its hands full at next month's Detroit Auto Show. The big news might be the debut of the M3 and M4, which were previewed in our Deep Dive, but joining those performance cars under the bright lights will be the all-new 2015 BMW 2 Series Coupe.
While we already know most of the details about the 2 Series and its available M Performance parts, BMW has now announced that the Coupe will go on sale in the first quarter of next year with a starting price of $33,025 (*plus $925 for destination) for the base 228i. This price is about $1,500 more than the current 1 Series Coupe, which starts at $31,500, while the M235i's starting price of $44,025 is almost $500 more than the existing 135is Coupe. There is still no indication as to when we'll see 2 Series Convertible unveiled.
In addition to new M cars and the 2 Series, BMW's display will also reveal another new color-theme package for the Z4. Last year we saw the Hyper Orange package, and this year will give us the Ivory White Burnt Sienna Z4 available in an exclusive Sparkling Brown Metallic exterior paint color. Scroll down for the full press release of production vehicles BMW has planned to showcase at Detroit's Cobo Hall next month.

BMW 2 Series caught uncovered during shoot

Before we know it, the BMW 1 Series will be no more in the United States. Well, sort of. The current six-year-old coupe and convertible will be replaced by the fancy new 2 Series you see here, spotted completely uncovered during a photo shoot, with the 1 Series nomenclature being reserved for the hatchback and GT models that might not ever make it Stateside.
The roofline of the new 2 Series doesn't appear to have to changed all that much from the current 1 Series coupe, but the front and rear fascias have indeed been smoothed out. (Truth time: As much as your author adores the 1 Series, he's always found its rear end to be, well, weird.) It looks good, seen here in M235i guise, with large wheels, slimmer headlamps and large air intakes on either side of the front fascia.
The 2 Series is expected to come to the States, likely in M235i and 228i variants, though rumors suggest that we won't get a non-M 235i model. The M235i is expected to be powered by the N55 turbocharged inline-six that we currently enjoy in the 335i sedan, producing something like 320 horsepower. The 228i, unsurprisingly, should use the 2.0-liter turbo-four from the 328i, making around 240 hp. Both engines will almost certainly employ eight-speed automatic transmissions and six-speed manuals.