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4
Handling
Performance
5
Usability
3
Feelgood factor
Readers' rating
3.5
By Richard Aucock
First Drives
29 January 2008 12:53
BMW teased us with the 1-series concept back in 2002. Remember the CS1, a stubby two-door drop-top, with flame surfacing fanning the flames of controversy? The BMW firewall, roasted by a million e-mails calling for Chris Bangle’s head, certainly does. It’s perhaps no coincidence that BMW has taken six years – six years! – to put that iteration into production. But, in April 2008, the 1-series range will, four years after launch, finally be complete. And the glaring gap in the range, now the 3-series drop-top has moved upmarket, will be filled.
No, thank goodness. Have you seen the rear end of a Peugeot 307 CC? Brit designer Kevin Rice was determined to avoid the ‘wedge’ so many coupe-convertibles are afflicted with (mental image: baboon's bottom). The only way to achieve this was with a compactly folding fabric roof, he says.
Rice’s work has created the most pleasing 1-series of all, with a roof-down elegance echoing the clean-cut lines of the ‘80s E30 3-series. Even the rear end is tidier than the coupe upon which it’s based; apparently, the aero of the fabric roof is better than the coupe’s hard-top, meaning less need for downforce-generating bootlid addenda.
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Peter B says
RE: BMW 125i Convertible CAR review
This is lovely; simple, solid and great to drive.
30 June 2008 18:25
keithcspencer says
M-Sport
My wife owns a 120d I do have to say that without the M-Sport kit the 1 series looks..... well naff. Crappy wheels don't help. It's the usual story these days. Cars are designed with big wheels and nice body kits and then decontented for the cheaper versions which inevitably makes them look naff. Sadly the 1 series conv looks.... well dull. Once they launch the M-Sport versions (which the will) then I've no doubt it will start to look pretty good. I actually saw my first "live" 1-series coupe yesterday. Lovely but definitely only going to be that way in certain colours. As for this, I think I'll be sticking with my Z4 for now thanks.
01 February 2008 14:05
andrewmorten says
That smug looking twat in the photo looks like he just let one rip and is bloody chuffed he had the roof off. His frizzy haired 'chick' certainly looks like she grabbed a whiff of it though and is trying to climb under the dashboard to get away. Either that or she just slid off the seat. But seriously its heavier than my 330D wagon and isnt really that useful in northern Europe where the weather is only getting wetter.
30 January 2008 23:16
satchel387 says
I agree
The typical driver is Helena, 47, very fit, slim, educated, well-dressed, has three grown children (all called Seth) and she plays tennis four times a week. She listens to Radio 3 but has loads of the new stuff by Amy Winehouse because her daughter Seth told her to get some. Her last car was an Audi TT and one day she will get Oliver (her husband #2) to buy a CLK. In the meantime, it's time to pop the hood on the BMW and trickle down to the wellness centre for another round of holistic zone therapy and a long massage from that nice young chap who Helena thinks may be single and free in the mornings. (I prefer the two door version of this car, myself.)
30 January 2008 21:00
morepowerigor says
hello chubby chops!
welcome to the world! I think it's gong to be a huge hit, and will mop up the yummy mummy market, too. Hundreds of times better looking than the CC's of the world and the Golf A3 Cabrio, and cheaper than the 3-series, but with many of the same engines. I don't think BMW are going to be able to build enough of them.
30 January 2008 19:57
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