SPY PICS: 1 Series primed for launch this year

Has BMW toned down the Bangle-era flame surfacing for the 2012 1 Series hatch? It's never clever to make assumptions based on a pre-production car plastered in paisley camo, but these pics from our master spy photographers at Carparazzi certainly hint at that; check out the view of the lightly disguised car from dead astern and you'll see what we mean.

Although it's nominally a 2012 model, Carparazzi anticipates the new 1 Series will go on sale this year in fact. When it does, it should bring a wider selection of model variants, including hybrids -- and a longer body with two side doors and a wagon/hatch-style tailgate. The blokes at Carparazzi say that this 'shooting brake' variant would provide adult-level legroom in the rear, something we reported about 18 months ago. That should appeal to the Americans.

All variants -- not just the 'shooting brake' -- are expected to be a little longer, with frontal styling evolved from the X1's. At the rear, the new car will feature thinner C pillars for an improved field of vision to the rear.

While it's the five-door hatch caught with its pants down in the spy photos, there will also be the shooting brake, three-door hatch, coupe and convertible models offered, of course.

According to Carparazzi, all-wheel drive is on the cards for the new 1 Series also. The spy photographers believe BMW will leverage its existing engine-sharing contract with PSA Peugeot Citroen for the supply of engines to power the new 1 Series. Engines for the new model will run the gamut from 1.4 to 3.0 litres.

-- with Carparazzi

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