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Inifinti asks for a BMW 1-Series rival

omarrana submitted on 5/1/2008 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 3:38:02 PM

42 user comments | Category: Misc News | Source: | SOURCE: www.egmcartech.com

Tag Link: Infiniti

Mercedes-Benz is already hard at work on a BMW 1-Series competitor and now, according to a report by AutoCar, Infiniti is also looking for a BMW 1-Series and Audi A3 rival.

Inside sources at Infiniti, told AutoCar that the automaker is planning a 1-Series rival that, design wise, will be totally different from anything in its segment.

Infiniti is looking at a small, high-end crossover or a coupe/cabriolet as body styles. The car is expected to arrive around...

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Hmmmm, and I wonder what Auto website predicted that over 6 months ago?

But there is no market no compromise rear wheel drive, affordable premium car...

The 1-Series is a fad like the internet.

It will NEVER catch on ;)

In the words of the Doobie Brothers... 'HOW do the fools survive?'

If you want to know what's going to happen in the world of autos FIRST, you're at the right website!

001
— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 3:59:04 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

really the internet never caught on? so what brings you to the internet then? I'm just picking but seriously I think the 1 series is good for BMW. It's a little pricey but it does two things. 1, makes BMW available to more people who like them and 2, pushes the 3 series upmarket so it is no longer viewed as the entry level or as the BMW someone bought because they couldn't afford anything higher in the BMW range. And wait till the leases run out. the certified 1 series are going to sell like hot cakes to the younger crowd who want a smaller rear wheel drive rather than settle for a new front wheel drive car, and even the 128 has great performance. Who else makes anything like it. Sure the infinity and 350z, but the 1 is a little more practical. I think it will fill a nice void between affordable front wheel drive cars and expensive rear wheel drive cars. I mean what would you choose, a new golf GTI or a certified 128i which will be close to the same price with better warranty and still have free maintainence? 128i will perform better. I will always buy certified used, not because I can't afford a new one, but because it makes much better financial sense, especially having a better warranty than a new car.
— 85bmw745i (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 8:35:03 PM | | Votes: 1

No point for 1 series rival. It'll only confuse customer and fight w/ NISSAN dealer.

What they really need are:

1. G37 convertible

2. A sports car, i.e., Z4/SLK rival.

3. TT G35 coupe.

And.....

4. A GT-R in different skin, for christ's sake!
— dlin (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 9:49:14 PM | | Votes: 1

everyone is joining the party. cadillac, alfa, infiniti, lexus...i bet acura could make a real gem on a newer s2000 platform.
— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 11:10:31 PM | | Votes: 2

Omar's a fan!

001
— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 3:59:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

001 I ordered my 135i already. Getting it in a couple of months. Black with red leather. premium, sports, heated, navi all that good stuff. Can't wait for it to arrive.
— omarrana (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 7:17:55 PM | | Votes: 4

Sounds fantastic... enjoy!
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 7:30:59 PM | | Votes: 3

I'm on. Good for Infiniti, I'm just curious to see what they're going to come up with. They already have a tiny, non-roomy crossover in the EX, so there's not much point in making an even smaller one. Plus until BMW comes out with the rumored X1 a 1-Series coupe/convertible isn't going to compete with a small crossover. And I'm not sure how much smaller they can make the G Coupe since it's smaller inside than a 1-Series as it is. They do need a convertible, though, since they don't have one at all. What would make the most sense is a smaller sedan than the G35 since the G sedan is more spacious than a 3-Series sedan, and that would also allow it to line up against the A3. The problem there is the G sedan is already priced like the 1-Series. I'm sure a $25k Infiniti sedan would sell great, but I don't know that they want an Infiniti sedan selling for Altima money.

We'll see.
— JRobUSC (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 5:00:23 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4

that's a possibility, assuming they can shave 5" inches off the hood and and still fit the engine. I know Infiniti likes those "flowing", more slipstream shapes.

I'm also not sure if having two similarly spacious coupes from the same manufacturer that (using your pricing) are only a few thousand dollars apart makes sense. The 3-Series is much more roomy than the 1, so having both makes at least some sense. But the G37 coupe is so small inside already that if it and the new car have the same amount of space inside, the same engine, and are priced that close, I think they'll steal more sales from the G than they will the 1.

Like I said, I'm curious to see what they come up with.
— JRobUSC (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 5:47:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

Are you two going at it again?
— 07G35J (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 7:52:09 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Well here's my 2 cents. I don't think it will be a good move. Making a 1-Series competitor could mean cannibalizing on 350Z sales. I think it would get into the Z's price range.

Come to think of it, I would even say that the upcoming 370Z could become a 1-Series competitor. What do you think?
— 07G35J (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 7:57:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

infiniti could use something like a 350z convertible. it was already mentioned that there is no such car in infiniti's lineup, but it would add the most value to the brand.

maybe not a 1 series competitor, so the only thing i could see nissan using the is the jdm tiida. all their other mini hatches are so ugly and small.
— gsh23 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 8:13:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

gsh23: "so the only thing i could see nissan using the is the jdm tiida."

Isn't the Tiida the same as the Versa here? If it is, I don't think a front-drive econobox can compete with the 1-Series.
— 07G35J (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 9:24:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

ah yes, the tiida is our versa. kind of like how lexus uses the camry for the ES. some sort of lowest model in the brand. it doesnt have to be flashy. just fuel efficient, good materials and build, lots of technology, and a fresh exterior. shouldnt be hard for infiniti.
— gsh23 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 1:10:05 PM | | Votes: 1

Bring back the G series. Infiniti needs more high volume models to compete with Lexus, their true archrival.
— Dr550 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 1:19:55 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

BMW is going to make EVERYONE change their game...AGAIN!

001
— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 5:04:03 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -9

ok whatever 001
— KZ258 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 5:05:59 PM | | Votes: 6

Even though the A3's been out for years! BMW define a segment they entered 7 years too late!
Love your BMW logic Agent001.
— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 5:20:11 PM | | Votes: 4

The A3 is an over-priced GTI, the 1-series is in a class of its own. Or rather should I say, the 1-series is in a class it OWNS!
— Agent00J (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 5:26:13 PM | | Votes: -7

Rupert,

You OBVIOUSLY have not driven the 135.

It would be at 60MPH before the A3 hit 30.

I like the A3...just heavy and slow.

001
— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 5:48:56 PM | | Votes: -2

OK, let's just forget BMW also makes a 116 with hubcaps and black plastic exterior trim....

...And that Audi makes a 260 BHP S3....
— Matthew1 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 7:07:34 PM | | Votes: 3

http://www.motohand.com/data/0/14820/_14820_2.jpg

Tell me that lethargic, cramped hatchback whets the appetites of the Autospies editorial team....
— Matthew1 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 7:11:08 PM | | Votes: 1

Let's do an Edmunds comparison of the A3 2.0T DSG vs. BMW 128i coupe:

A3 / 1 Series
$27,410 / $28,600
MPG 22/29 / 18/28
Length 168.7 / 171.7
Weight - they're actually both right around 3300lbs... but the 135i is heavier than A3.
0-60 - very close. I would have to say they're both in the low 6's here. So, not only is the A3 not heavier, but it's not slower either. And you can't say you were comparing the A3 to the 135i, because that simply isn't fair.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 7:37:30 PM | | Votes: 1

S4,

Don't think the name-calling was quite the order of the day, he wasn't attacking you personally, however I agree that 001 needs to take a leaf out of his own book and check the FACTS.

I also believe the 135i has been blown out of proportion. Yes it's fast, and yes it's smaller than a 3....but is that a NEW segment?

Maybe Stateside.... but BMW has basically just come very late and gatecrashed the hot-hatch party Europe has enjoyed for many years.

And in Europe they have hot-hatches that are even more driver-focussed and hardcore than the BMW, think RenaultSport Megane 230.

— Matthew1 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 8:09:04 PM | | Votes: 3

i agree, even in the US the 135i shares a history of small cars with stellar performance. in europe, the 135i is in a segment saturated with hot hatches.
— gsh23 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 8:16:26 PM | | Votes: 1

Honestly, not long ago when 001 compared the looks of the 4-door 3 series to the new C-Class Benz and said the C looked outdated or not as good looking, that's when I thought WOW!...what is this guy smoking???
— SHOWTIME (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 10:03:37 AM | | Votes: 3

I Live in Britain, and we get A LOT of hot hatches. The 135i, great engine, but has little to offer other than more power (for a lot more money) over something like a R32, S3 and Alfa 147 GTA, or even some of the front wheel drive models like the Focus ST, Megane 225 and Seat Leon Cupra. The 1 series is very cramped in the back (I have been in all the cars bar the Alfa), it is very expensive and has no exclusivity at all - here they are all driven by estate agents and middle aged women as their town car. The A3 and Golf are as well, but the A3 has a much cleaner style and is more fashionable, the 1 series is often called a bread van. The 1 series is a good car, but is nothing special at all, and we get all the ordinary petrol and diesel engines, which are good, but the petrols severely lack against the 1.4 TFSI, 1.8TFSI and the 2.0TFSI. The 116i, 118i and 120i are gutless and rubbish.
— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 11:49:59 AM | | Votes: 1

And the 116i sprints to 60 in 11 seconds. Slower than all Audi A3s, bar the 1.9tdi (although that gets 62 UK mpg).
— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 12:01:18 PM | | Votes: 1

Rupert, the 147 GTA is FWD.
— Matthew1 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 5:19:45 PM | | Votes: 1

I literally just remembered it's the 159 that has AWD as an option on the V6, not the 147.
I chose it more because it's a premium car and has a V6. The next one will be AWD though.
— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 7:16:04 PM | | Votes: 1

the 1 series has been out for a long time in europe, rupert. Also, BMW didnt bring the 1 series hatchback to the US like Audi did.
it will be even smaller than the G35!
— 2ndbimmer (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 5:39:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Monkey see, monkey do!

:-(
— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 6:38:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

Good for Infiniti. I have no doubt that whatever they create to take down the 1-series will be awesome.
— PerformanceGuy (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 6:58:30 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4

If Infiniti would have put a decent engine in the old G20 and restyled it, they would have had a hit. That car was fun to drive, just underpowered and boring to look at. Throw in a good engine, it would have been great fun!
— GinsterCQ (View Profile)

Posted on 5/1/2008 10:38:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

The A3 has been around for two generations already. The original 1 series is a hatch (what sells in Europe) The 1 series hatch is not a great car. A video comparison said it has nothing on the VW Golf. Hatches outsell sedans in Europe (and are preffered) much like sedans are more popular in the US. So it will be interesting to see how much sucess the 1 series coupe will have in Europe.

What BMW did do, is make a coupe out of it. MB has had an entry coupe, but the 1 series is better.

1 series coupe is a new idea for the US.

The next A3 will supposedly come in sedan versions.
— chewy (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 12:27:20 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

I was comparing similar power levels (and most similar possible prices) Like say a 160 hp 1 series that is somewhat more expensive than a 160 hp Golf.
— chewy (View Profile)

Posted on 5/2/2008 2:18:45 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

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Inifinti asks for a BMW 1-Series rival

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