Tråd: BMW plots nye junior M-bil

Kommende 1-serie sedan kan få 300bhp M rækkevidde-topper BMW er udrugning planer for et varmt entry-level M-model, der er baseret omkring en ny saloon version af den anden generation af 1-serien.
Den kompakte fire-dørs har til formål at give BMW med en direkte rival til den kommende Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG og Audi S3 sedan. Den nye BMW har allerede afsat til at køre en meget spændt 2. 0-liters turbo motor med mindst 300bhp.
Men på grund af den tunge teknik arbejdsbyrde, der står BMW på eksisterende ny model udvikling, kompakt M Performance saloon er usandsynligt at ramme det forenede KONGERIGE indtil den sidste halvdel af 2015 tidligst.
Aktivt overvejer vi det, sagde en højtstående BMW insider. Tror vi, der er et potentielt marked? Ja, og det forventes at vokse hurtigt. Hvis vi havde kapaciteten, ville vi allerede være godt på vej [mod produktion] nu.
Interne BMW undersøgelser viser, at markedet for kompakte ydeevne saloner er indstillet til høj vækst i det centrale høj-volumen markeder, såsom Kina og Nordamerika. Med både S3 sedan og CLA45 AMG ankommer inden udgangen af næste år, BMW tjenestemænd, der er ivrige efter at fast-track-den nye model, eventuelt med indgået aftale engineering, ifølge kilder inden for automotive komponent leverandør rækker.
Beslutningen om at form planer for en pris-førende M ydeevne saloon stammer fra limited-run 1-serie M Coupe brandudsalg succes og kritikerros dynget på 315bhp seks-cylinder M135i udklækkes, road testet i 14 November spørgsmålet.
Der har været en engros skift i markedet, siger en kilde. Vores traditionelle M-modeller — M3 og M5 – er blevet meget større, meget mere kraftfulde, bedre udstyrede og naturligvis dyrere i år. De stadig sælger i massivt tal, men det er tid til at fokusere på de mere overkommelige ende af rækken ydeevne.
En tyk slør af hemmelighedskræmmeri omgiver BMW'er junior saloon planer. Autocar kan dog afsløre, at virksomheden mulling over to forskellige strategier.
Først drejer sig om den eksisterende baghjulstræk-1-serie. Allerede tilbudt i tre-dørs og fem-dørs krop stilarter, vil det blive suppleret næste år ved ankomsten af andengenerations coupe og konvertible modeller, der skal sælges under en ny 2-serien nomenklatur. Forslagene opfordrer til de baghjulstrukne fundament for 2-serien, som vil have en lidt længere bageste udhæng end deres hatchback søskende, der skal bruges til den nye 1-serien sedan og eventuelt en entry-level Touring model.
Den anden strategi indebærer BMW'er nye front - hjul drev platform afsløret på Paris motor show i September som grundlag for den kompakte Sports Tourer — en begrebet companys kommende fem-sæders MPV rival til Mercedes B-klasse.
Den stål monocoque UKL1 struktur, som vil understøtte fremtidige Mini modeller, er også at være eyed som grundlag for 1-serie Sedan at konkurrere mod de fire-dørs version af den nye Audi A3, afsløret som et koncept på 2011 Geneve motor show, og den swoopy nye Mercedes CLA, fremvist på dette års Beijing motor show som den kompakte Sports Coupe. A3 og CLA er base biler for S3 og CLA45 AMG.
BMW allerede planlægger en M ydeevne version af 2-series coupe, sandsynligvis vil blive badged M235i coupe. En Åbn-top version baseret på den nye 2-serien Cabriolet er tilbøjelige til at følge. Men som med den nyligt indførte M135i hatch, som sælges i både tre-dørs og fem-dørs karrosseriformer, BMW ser potentiale i at tilbyde en mere praktisk M ydeevne saloon samt.
De udvalgte bag-drev BMW platform understøtter langsgående motor montering, og front-drev, man har tænkt omkring en tværgående motor layout. Selv om den bagerste-drev platform anses for at være dynamisk, superior-på grund af sin evne til at opnå noget nær perfekt forside-til-bagside vægtfordeling, det mangler den indre emballage fordele af front-drevet struktur. Begge er blevet manipuleret til at tage fire-hjulstræk.
Økonomiske overvejelser er også en bekymring. BMW kilder antyder, at de tilføjede processer involveret i producerer den baghjulstrukne struktur gør det op til 15 procent dyrere end den nye front-drev platform. Men de også påpege, at bag-drevet en i øjeblikket nyder godt af større stordriftsfordele fordi det deler komponenter med den platform, under 3-serien, som er stadig BMW'er bedst sælgende model.
Gør det front - hjul drev ville lade det være venskabsby med en rygter nye Mini saloon, der forfalder i 2015.
Selvom et spørgsmålstegn hænger over hvilken platform BMW vil bruge, vises dens chefer har allerede afgjort på fire-cylinder effekt for sin nye entry-level ydeevne saloon. Detaljerne er sparsomme, men den nye enhed er beskrevet som en udvikling af dagens 2. 0-liters turbomotor, N20 som det kaldes internt, udtænkt for langsgående og tværgående montering.
Med twin-scroll turboladning, fuldt variabel Ventilindstilling, letvægts internals og piezo-styrede direkte brændstofindsprøjtning, det har til formål at matche de berusende niveauer opnået af den nyeste version af Audi Turboladet 296bhp 2. 0-liters EA888 motor og AMGs ligeledes konfigureret 349bhp M132 motor.
I sin nuværende højeste tilstand af harmoni, N20 spark ud 242bhp, som i 128i. For sin nye entry-level M-model, BMW ser på udvinding af mere end 300bhp fra enheden.
Beslutningen om at gå med en fire-cylindret magt giver et tilstrækkeligt hul i line-up til den sjette generation af M3, der er indstillet til at skifte fra sin eksisterende naturligt indsugning 4. 0-liters V8 til en turboladet 3. 0-liters straight-seks.

Forthcoming 1-series saloon may get 300bhp M range-topper BMW is hatching plans for a hot entry-level M model based around a new saloon version of the second-generation 1-series.
The compact four-door aims to provide BMW with a direct rival to the upcoming Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG and Audi S3 saloon. The new BMW has already been earmarked to run a highly strung 2. 0-litre turbo engine with at least 300bhp.
However, because of the heavy engineering workload facing BMW on existing new model development, the compact M Performance saloon is unlikely to hit the UK until the latter half of 2015 at the earliest.
We are actively considering it, said a high-ranking BMW insider. Do we think there is a potential market? Yes, and it is likely to grow rapidly. If we had the capacity, we would already be well down the road [to production] by now.
Internal BMW studies reveal that the market for compact performance saloons is set for high growth in key high-volume markets, such as China and North America. With both the S3 saloon and CLA45 AMG due to arrive before the end of next year, BMW officials are keen to fast-track the new model, possibly with contracted engineering, according to sources within automotive component supplier ranks.
The decision to form plans for a price-leading M Performance saloon stems from the sellout success of the limited-run 1-series M Coupe and the critical acclaim heaped on the 315bhp six-cylinder M135i hatch, road tested in the 14 November issue.
There has been a wholesale shift in the market, said one source. Our traditional M models — the M3 and M5 — have become a good deal larger, a lot more powerful, better equipped and naturally more expensive over the years. They still sell in solid numbers, but it is time to concentrate on the more affordable end of the performance range.
A thick shroud of secrecy surrounds BMWs junior saloon plans. However, Autocar can reveal that the firm is mulling over two disparate strategies.
The first revolves around the existing rear-wheel-drive 1-series. Already offered in three-door and five-door body styles, it will be bolstered next year by the arrival of second-generation coupe and convertible models, to be sold under a new 2-series nomenclature. Proposals call for the rear-drive underpinnings of the 2-series, which will have a slightly longer rear overhang than that of their hatchback siblings, to be used for the new 1-series saloon and possibly an entry-level Touring model.
The second strategy involves BMWs new front-wheel drive platform revealed at the Paris motor show in September as the basis for the Compact Sports Tourer — a concept of the companys upcoming five-seat MPV rival to the Mercedes B-class.
The steel monocoque UKL1 structure, which will underpin future Mini models, is also being eyed as a possible basis for the 1–series saloon to compete against the four-door version of the new Audi A3, revealed as a concept at the 2011 Geneva motor show, and the swoopy new Mercedes CLA, previewed at this years Beijing motor show as the Compact Sports Coupe. The A3 and CLA are base cars for the S3 and CLA45 AMG.
BMW is already planning an M Performance version of the 2-series coupe, likely to be badged M235i coupe. An open-top version based on the new 2-series convertible is likely to follow. But as with the recently introduced M135i hatch, which is sold in both three-door and five-door body styles, BMW sees potential in offering a more practical M Performance saloon as well.
The shortlisted rear-drive BMW platform supports longitudinal engine mounting, and the front-drive one has been conceived around a transverse engine layout. Although the rear-drive platform is considered to be dynamically superior because of its ability to achieve near-perfect front-to-rear weight distribution, it lacks the interior packaging advantages of the front-drive structure. Both have been engineered to take four-wheel drive.
Cost considerations are also a concern. BMW sources suggest that the added processes involved in producing the rear-drive structure make it up to 15 per cent more expensive than the new front-drive platform. However, they also point out that the rear-drive one currently benefits from greater economies of scale because it shares components with the platform used beneath the 3-series, which is still BMWs best-selling model.
Making it front-wheel drive would allow it to be twinned with a rumoured new Mini saloon thats due in 2015.
Although a question mark hangs over which platform BMW will use, its bosses appear to have already settled on four-cylinder power for its new entry-level performance saloon. Details are scarce, but the new unit is described as a development of todays 2. 0-litre turbo engine, the N20 as it is known internally, conceived for both longitudinal and transverse mounting.
With twin-scroll turbocharging, fully variable valve timing, lightweight internals and piezo-guided direct fuel injection, it aims to match the heady levels achieved by the latest version of Audis turbocharged 296bhp 2. 0-litre EA888 engine and AMGs similarly configured 349bhp M132 powerplant.
In its current highest state of tune, the N20 kicks out 242bhp, as in the 128i. For its new entry-level M model, BMW is looking at extracting more than 300bhp from the unit.
The decision to go with four-cylinder power provides a sufficient gap in the line-up to the sixth-generation M3, which is set to switch from its existing naturally aspirated 4. 0-litre V8 to a turbocharged 3. 0-litre straight six.