Filed under: Car Buying, Coupes, Euro, BMW

While it’s impossible to accurately judge the cost of vehicles in the U.S. based off pricing in Europe, Autocar gives us a brief glimpse of what to expect. According to the Brit website, the diesel-equipped models will span the financial spectrum between £21,585 for the 175 HP 120d to £26,290 for the 201 HP M-Sport 123d. Since we’ll probably see none of the oil-burners here in the States, the one figure that stood out to us was £29,745. That’s the price in pounds for the M-Sport equipped 135i.

Using some creative math, £29,745 is just under $60,000 U.S. at current exchange rates - far from what we’ll pay when the 135i makes its way across the pond. For comparison, the 335i in the U.K. comes in at £31,550, or about $63,500 in U.S. dollars (again, at today’s exchange rate). So if the base 335i here in the United States comes in at $38,900, then would it be safe to assume that the 135i should be under $35k? And if so, is that too close to the 3-series pricing to make it worthwhile? Our answer: Maybe. Although we bristle with excitement at the prospect of a small(ish) vehicle with a 300 HP twin-turbo’d straight-six, such a small pricing discrepancy might cause us to upgrade. What say you?

[Source: Autocar]

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Filed under: Car Buying, Coupes, Euro, BMW

A new entry-level car from a premium European brand will be washing up on our shores when the BMW 1-Series arrives carrying a price tag slightly under $30,000. Much the same way as Volvo’s looking to its bobbed-tail C30 to recruit younger buyers into the fold while offering an appropriately flavored confection of a car, the 1-Series has the task of winning customers who would love a Roundel on the hood, but can’t swing the 3-series. Having done the truncated poop deck on the E36 318ti, BMW decided to go with a traditional three-box profile this time around.

Where former entry-level efforts from premium European brands have not inspired drivers, the 1-Series has everyone buzzing. While the 135i gets the 335’s delectable 300-HP drivetrain, good for a 5.1 second run to 60 mph, even the “entry level” 128i will have plenty of snort. The 128i will make do with 230 horses, giving up a second in the accelerative dash, yet taking it about $5,000 easier on your checkbook. We expect that BMW has learned from its 318ti experience, and the interior will not be a cheapened affair when compared to the 3-series, but will carry the same high quality materials, super comfortable seats, and impossibly tight fits. It’s getting to be so you can’t swing a cat without hitting a slightly-sub-30K vehicle with a spiffy emblem on the rump. We like that.

[Source: Auto News - sub req.]

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