Try as we might, we just can't get the entire country to get rid of their
less useful, but better at avoiding line-of-sight police search (ask an attorney
about sedans vs wagons some time) sedans and replace them all with (preferably
diesel) hatchbacks. We made all the right moves, but sadly, Americans just don't
get efficient packaging. Nor, apparently, do the Chinese.
It's this one-two-punch of preference over style and substance that is
causing BMW to rethink their current product line and add a four-door sedan to
the 1-Series lineup primarily for the U.S. and China. We've never had the
five-door 1 Series here and that severely limits the appeal of this small car
and with Mercedes on track to bring the CLA to the US with four-doors and a
trunk, sales of the 1 Series will be even more relegated to customers
cross-shopping Mustangs instead of luring the next generation of rich guys into
the fold.
Unfortunately for those looking for a small, fast, four-door BMW, you'll have
to wait until the next-generation of 1 Series due sometime in 2014. Autocar is
reporting that this new platform will used shared parts from the 3 Series
instead of sharing the new Mini platform as has been rumored. Fingers crossed
that they're right.
