Baby Beemer confirmed

IT'S official: BMW's secret new micro car will be called the 1 Series and it will definitely be sold in Australia, possibly by late 2004. In true BMW fashion, the 1 Series will employ a front-mounted longitudinal engine driving the rear wheels.

The 1 Series name was confirmed by BMW chief executive officer Joachim Milberg at last month's Geneva motor show, ending rumours it may be badged a 2 Series.

But only now has BMW Australia confirmed its existence and that it will be sold here.

"The 1 Series will certainly be launched here," BMW Australia product and market planning manager Ralf Kaiser told Automotive NetWorks.

"It's an interesting addition to our portfolio and, like all BMWs, it will be a dynamic, premium quality product without compromise, driving the rear wheels," he said.

Mr Kaiser would not divulge any technical details on the 1 Series, saying only that the choice of engine(s) for the local market would be consistent with its positioning between Mini, which goes on sale early next year, and the new 3 Series Compact due in local dealers by August.

"The 1 Series will be very different to both Mini and Compact," he said.

"It's an opportunity to attract new, younger customers, especially those in Asian markets, and will push the value image even further. It has to be value for money, so that will guarantee high volumes." Mr Kaiser would not be drawn on potential sales comparisons with the 3 Series Compact or Mini and was equally tight lipped about implications of the 1 Series name.

"Calling it a 1 Series could leave room for a future product, or maybe it's meant to symbolise the fact it's our entry level model," he said.

It is likely, however, that the number of 1 Series sales will exceed those of the Compact, which should sell for at least $40,000, but fall short of Mini, which should have an entry price of around $35,000. So expect a pricetag somewhere between the two.

Reports from Europe indicate 1 Series will be released in both three and five-door guise, with a target weight of 1100kg.

Cabin and luggage space is not expected to rival that of opposition cars like A class, A2 and Golf because of its rear-drive layout, but a new range of all-alloy, four-cylinder Valvetronic engines should give BMW's smallest model adequate performance.

Built at the Ham's Hall plant in the British midlands, the engines will range in capacity from 1.4 to 2.0-litres, the largest version to be reserved for a hot M1 model to follow sometime in 2005 at a cost of about $60,000.

But by that time at least three other new BMW models will have appeared.

First will be an all-new replacement for the current E38 7 Series.

Featuring a number of new technologies including intelligent brake lighting that increases in brightness with brake pedal pressure, the new 7 Series should appear by early next year.

It will be followed a year later by a new Z3 in early 2003. Riding on a longer wheelbase, the longer and wider body will include front and rear design cues from the X coupe concept car shown at Detroit.

Improved dynamics through the use of the 3 Series sedan's rear suspension will push the new Z3 toward Porsche's Boxster in both positioning and price.

The five-speed Steptronic automatic transmission is also likely to be offered in Z3 for the first time, though BMW is said to have dropped plans of blessing it with aluminium body panels a la the Z8 or an SLK-style folding hard top.

An M version should arrive later in 2003, employing the upcoming M3's new 252kW, 3.2 litre six-cylinder with an optional SMG II sequential manual transmission. But a new generation example of the slow selling M coupe looks shaky.

A successor to the defunct 6 Series coupe was also confirmed in Geneva.

Said to use a mixture of 5 and 7 Series design concepts, the new 6 Series is likely to replace the unloved 8 Series and will be available only in coupe and convertible forms. It too should surface in Europe during 2003.

Right now, however, BMW is gearing up for sales of Mini through a new national dealer network, as well as the imminent arrival of the E46 M3.

Due here in June or July, BMW's new 3 Series sports coupe will compete with Mercedes-Benz's supercharged C32 coupe, due the month before.

Its marketing will centre on the SMG II version, with a conventional six-speed manual version to be sold as a no-cost option, also for $135,500.

Final numbers and locations of Mini retail outlets are yet to be confirmed although it is believed potential dealers must meet BMW?s requirements of selling them through a separate showroom and guaranteeing sales quotas.

"Mini will be sold through clearly different showrooms but with synergies between servicing, parts and the like," Mr Kaiser said.

"Our dealer network is still undecided but there will be full geographical coverage including all metro and strategic regional areas." Finally, as a running change from February production, BMW's M Roadster and M Coupe will be available from April by special order only with the E46 M3's new 3.2-litre six.

DSC III stability and DBC brake control systems will also be fitted, along with an integrated tacho and oil temperature display as seen on the M5 and upcoming M3.

Though the storming new powerplant will power the M Roadster and Coupe only in detuned 239kW form, it is said to blast them to 100km/h in just 5.3 seconds - down from 5.4. Expect a small price rise.