Thursday 16th December 2010

Mild Tweak For 2011 1-series Coupe

Gently revised 1-series revealed before Detroit debut

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The forthcoming BMW 1-series M might be getting most of the attention from the petrol-blooded of this world right now, but BMW is also giving the rest of its 1-series coupe and convertible models a refresh for 2011.

The tweaked 1-series will get its public debut at the Detroit motor show in January

The facelift is mild to say the least, with revised light designs front and rear including a fetching LED 'eyebrow', and a new splitter - dubbed the 'air curtain' by BMW.

As a result aerodynamic efficiency is improved, with consequent benefits to fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Which is jolly good, although BMW hasn't yet released the exact figures.

Trim revisions include the introduction of three new alloy wheel designs - V-spoke 18in items, and two new 17in designs - while buyers can now also opt for 'Marrakesh Brown' or 'Vermillion Red' paint.

[flat6buster]

Having hated BMW styling for 10 years I do wonder if they are getting back on track. This may be minor in facelift terms but it looks a lot better than it used to (or is that just the photography?). Alas the comic inane grin swage line at sill level will remain I guess.

[ganser]

The 'eyebrows' make the headlights look much more acceptable. But overall the car still reminds me of a bowler hat and i can't get used to that

[Mattmeister]

how much better would it look without that lower swage line?! I remember a journo saying it 'looked like a pregnant cat' and cant get this out of my head every time i see a 1 series on the road...

[FWDRacer]

"Make way for Noddy..."

[356Speedster]

Still looks completly out of proportion with itself. And when are BMW going to make a nice looking interior?? It may be of decent quality (can't tell from the pics obviously), but every BMW interior looks so dull, I couldn't bear to be inside one for more than a few minutes incase I fell asleep.

[TimS2000]

Still looks ste - the sooner they ditch this Bangle monstrosity and bring out a whole new model the better

[Scoobyshue]

Brown? Who buys brown cars?

[Porsche997C4S]

What about the hatchback? :/

[Antj]

regardless of looks, still a great car to drive.

RWD chassis is a peach

[Luca Brasi]

Would really like one of these to replace my E46 in a few years. New nav looks really nice too.

[havoc]

Antj said:

regardless of looks, still a great car to drive.

RWD chassis is a peach

Yeah, probably...but there's still shades here of that BOBFOC thread in the Lounge from the start of the week. You'd enjoy the drive, but you'd feel dirty afterwards!

[Riggers]

Porsche997C4S said:

What about the hatchback? :/

The hatch is due for a much more dramatic makeover soon...

[Wolands Advocate]

Scoobyshue said:

Brown? Who buys brown cars?

Germans and other continental Europeans apparently. When I was down in the Leipzig factory that builds the 1-series last month, they told us that brown was taking over from white as one of the most popular colours being ordered...

In fact my father recently took delivery in Italy of a new Audi S5 Sportback.....in dark metallic brown. I am reserving judgement on the "Flying Turd" until I see it....

[GTEYE]

Even as an owner of the current one I am struggling to see the changes.....but irrespective, its a damned good car. Many don't like the Bangle styling, personally I think it has aged quite well and at least it generates opinions. I find it difficult to say anything about an A3's styling...

[Ollieb7]

GTEYE said:

Even as an owner of the current one I am struggling to see the changes.....but irrespective, its a damned good car. Many don't like the Bangle styling, personally I think it has aged quite well and at least it generates opinions. I find it difficult to say anything about an A3's styling...

Well said!

[Johnpidge]

Quite like this - but in the correct colours not in st brown it has to be

Black with ............

[Wadeski]

the 1er coupe is lovely. Closest we are getting to a new E30.

a 130i ragtop would be a lovely daily driver in a few years once the depreciation has taken its toll.

[yinujim]

Its nice, but they dont make cars that look perfect any more.

[davepoth]

They do know what Marrakech Brown actually is I hope...

[LukeBird]

It really is an awful looking car that... BMW have definitely lost the way and certainly don't seem to be any closer to getting on track!