SPY PICS: 1 Coupe caught cold

BMW's 1 Series Coupe has been caught cold by CarPoint/Carsales spy photo expert, Carparazzi. The cobby, compact coupe was snapped last week in winter testing above the Arctic Circle.

This is the car Australia will see in mid-2008 to be followed around a year later by a similarly styled soft-top Cabrio. It is this also car that, in effect, put the nail in the coffin of BMW Australia importing the recently-debuted 1 Series three-door hatch (see more

Though near-ready for the public, it is unlikely the latest 1 Series models will debut at the Frankfurt show in September -- lest they steal the thunder of the new V8-engined M3. At this stage, therefore, it is most likely that the 2008 Geneva Show will play host to the unveiling.

Don't be too perturbed by the abbreviated rear three-quarter glass of the car pictured -- if you look closely you will see a conventional three-quarter light and the trademark Hoffmeister Kink c-pillar under the disguise.

Engine options have yet to be confirmed. We expect the local offering to follow the existing 1 Series range with entry level 118/120 four-cylinder petrol models and a six-cylinder offering along the lines of the current 130i.

The shots hereabouts appear to show the twin turned down exhausts BMW favours for its six-cylinder turbodiesel models. Europe will definitely get four-cylinder oilers, so the six is not too much of a stretch.

Rumours also persist about a range-topping 'don't-call-it-an-M1' hottie. Installing the twin-turbo direct-injection petrol six from the 335i coupe and sedan could result in a firebrand perfect for this role.

Among driving enthusiasts, there are strong sentiment that the 3-series Coupe has grown too large and luxurious to be a true sports coupe. Many of them long for a smaller, simpler car with the driving dynamics for which BMW has become famous. The hotter 1 Series coupes could be just the tools to deliver on that desire.