Has the MINI Altered BMW's Plans for the 1 Series?

I think the only reason why BMW will not offer the upcoming 1-series in the US market, is to try to eliminate as much as possible, any price and market segment overlaps between the very successful MINI and the BMW 1 series. If MINI didn't exist, rest assured that BMW would had planned to bring more than 1 body style of this entry level car.

A $22K BMW 1 series hatchback has the potential to cannibalize MINI Cooper S sales. True they both are very different cars when it comes to market audience and powertrain layout.

Having only an entry level BMW 1 series sedan with RWD and a smooth 6 in line engine, will further differentiate MINI from its BMW cousins and I think this is a good thing, because this will put further pressure on the MINI side of the business to come up with more body variants such as the Cabrio and the Traveller wagon to name a few.

If you want to stick with MINI, the buyer will have a), b) and c) body choices if this individual wants to step up to a 6 cyl engine and RWD, the clear option becomes the Series-1 sedan which will probably start at say $25K to $28K??

I think BMW needs to worry more about the future role of the 3-series, which has been BMW's bread and butter car since the beginning of time. Is the next 3 series moving upscale? If the Series 1 is a success it will affect 3 series sales not MINI's.

I personally would like to see the 1-series in the flesh and would consider it as an alternative only if MINI delays the introduction of a 4 door model in 3 to 4 years down the road. A series-1 sport wagon would indeed be a sweet deal but I would prefer a MINI Traveller wagon just because it is more our type of car.

Amen to that. BMW must improve their quality of their cars in the next 5 years or they will be in the same position as Mercedes is now – three spots below Chevrolet in JD Power quality ratings.

As it stands now it's good but not great.

In response to Frank's post above, I don't think the message was that the one series will be scratched entirely (unless BMW chooses to call the four-door version a 2-series, which would stand contrary to their current naming convention), but rather that they will scratch the hatchback coupe version only, retaining the four-door sedan. The rest of your post gives thoughtful insite to layout of powertrain and body mates. As a current '03 MCS owner (well, lessor), I was looking particularly forward to the arrival of the entire 1- (and perhaps 2-) series lineup. I still intend to make the transition to entry-level Bimmer, but would have preferred the look of a two-door hatchback, and will be interested to see how the 4 will be executed. However, I agree with Gabe that BMW's quality trend needs to remain strong to hold my interest.

Imagine the M1 That'd kick the butt of any JCW MCS… He's right, the 1 would most certainly infringe upon their MINI investments… and it would reduce the mini to just a neat looking car. I would consider a 2 door 1 series… Imagine again the M badge and the Dinan Badge on it… RWD, sweet. And it's a good looking car to boot.

BMW 1 series is seriously ugly and has poor hatrch access. Mini has little to fear. What a pity BMW bungled the One instead of doing another retro coup by styling a 2 door sedan on BMW 1602 lines- BMW could have saved a bomb on parts inventory and majored on much needed quality.

The 1996 BMW Z3 was a 4 four-cylinder car.