Thursday 3rd April 2008

BMW Planning 1 and 3-Series tii?

Reports suggest lightweight tii versions of small BMWs may be on the cards again

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Could a production tii be a possibility?

After BMW flatly denied that a 1-Series tii would ever see the light of day it now appears the car has been given the green light.

The 1-Series tii Concept was well received at the Tokyo Motor Show and fans hoped it would point towards a lighter, cheaper alternative to an M-car.

According to reports BMW is now looking to bring out a tii version of both the 1 and 3 Series.

The revelations are said to have come from BMW chief Norbert Reithofer, but the question is is whether the tii versions will come as complete cars or a range of upgrades.

BMW recently told PistonHeads that there would be no production 1-Series tii, but there would be a range of performance parts so customers could sort of make the car themselves.

This idea was unsurprisingly not as well received as a showroom ready, lightweight tii.

One thing that has been ruled out reportedly is an M-model of the 1 –Series, so it’s not all good news.

[VladD]

I think two distinct product lines could work for BMW. The M Series for performance and Luxury and the Ti (or Tii) series for stripped out performance. And I mean propely stripped out, no A/C, no music system and manual windows etc.

[DamoLLb]

I think BMW would have the same reasons as Porsche had with the caymen and 911 not to build these cars. The comparrason between the tii and M3 will no doubt occur and probibly leave M3 customers a little short changed..... everybody loves an underdog!

[VladD]

DamoLLb said:

I think BMW would have the same reasons as Porsche had with the caymen and 911 not to build these cars. The comparrason between the tii and M3 will no doubt occur and probibly leave M3 customers a little short changed..... everybody loves an underdog!

I can see what you're saying. Maybe keeping the M badge for the 3, 5 and 6 series, and using the Tii but not the M badge for the 1 series could work. It makes sense for the smallest car in the range (excluding the Mini) to be the lightweight racer. I'm quite suprised there's no "Cup" spec Mini though. How light was the "Mini GP" compared to the Cooper S?

[Road_Terrorist]

VladD said:

I think two distinct product lines could work for BMW. The M Series for performance and Luxury and the Ti (or Tii) series for stripped out performance. And I mean propely stripped out, no A/C, no music system and manual windows etc.

That doesn't really make any sense though, the Tii designation has absolutely nothing to do with lightweight, stripped out models. In the original 2002tii it just meant the top of the line model fitted with fuel injection and with other extra performance parts like larger brakes and better suspension. It certainly wasn't a stripped out racer, it was more akin to a 135i.

BMW does already have a seperate nomenculture for lightweight, stripped models, that is CSL and the M3 CSL was just that. If anyone want's anything more stripped out than a CSL, they can just go direct to the Motorsport catalouge and order a turnkey racer. The market for a true stripped out road car would be miniscule and those that would want one wouldn't actually buy it unless it was very cheap, which is unlikely considering the extra labour needed to strip a production line built vehicle.

[Rob_the_Sparky]

Details like that never stopped them producing a huge Mini...!

[clarencegi77]

a cup mini? intresting... i most certainly won't be considering something like that, anyway don't they already have JCW versions? how will those line up then? and yes, the CSL's are the stripped out versions, so it may be unlikely that there will be track-oriented versions spawned from the tii name... would love to see a more focused 1-series, though... if it will be compared to the M3 then so be it... Audi has a S3, merc's gonna have a simillar model to compete in the same market...

[oagent]

Rob_the_Sparky said:

Details like that never stopped them producing a huge Mini...!

Maxi tti

[Baffled Spoon]

I think a lighter tti spec 135i coupe would be fantastic. If done properly it could well end up as the true spiritual successor to the E30 M3. Simple, small, light, fast and fun = driving perfection (potentially)

[Mike Roberts]

I've had a deposit on a tii (should they make one) since October and have been promised and promised and promised "something is coming"

To be honest I've pretty much lost faith and can't see it - their Performance Parts range is a far more profitable route a la JCW.

The fabled 120iCS twin-turbo 4 pot with all the kit factory fitted was what I was hoping for.... a load of cosmetic dealer fit add ons that are worthless come resale I was not.

[amare32]

Sounds an interesting proposition but what I really want is for BMW and Lotus to join forces so they can stick the M3 CSL engine into an Exige

[Dr S]

Whatever they call it, a lightweight version would make a lot of sense, given how lardy the regular models including M3 are

[flattotheboards]

They dont even have to use the biggest engines, they could use the smaller ones and make it handle better than it does already and lighten it a little bit and it would be a great little car that wouldnt threaten the M3.

[neh321]

So if an M1 has DEFINITELY been ruled out they must be working on one right now.
Should be out within a couple of years then.

[bodhi]

The 1-series tii is brilliant in Gran Turismo 5 - handles like a dream.


Hence, BMW should build it, yesterday.

[Kieran XJR]

neh321 said:

So if an M1 has DEFINITELY been ruled out they must be working on one right now.
Should be out within a couple of years then.

Rumor has it they are working on the M1.

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

[eurojay]

Kieran XJR said:

neh321 said:

So if an M1 has DEFINITELY been ruled out they must be working on one right now.
Should be out within a couple of years then.

Rumor has it they are working on the M1.

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

Although its not going to be a 1 series with an M engine, its a completely different animal altogether

[Kieran XJR]

eurojay said:

Kieran XJR said:

neh321 said:

So if an M1 has DEFINITELY been ruled out they must be working on one right now.
Should be out within a couple of years then.

Rumor has it they are working on the M1.

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

Although its not going to be a 1 series with an M engine, its a completely different animal altogether

Yeah, my point was that BMW have already designated the M1 name for it's supercars, so a M version of the 1 Series would not be called an M1. If there was to be such a car, maybe it could be an M135 or something? Might be a bit confusing though, hence the tii name I suspect.

[hirsty27]

Umm,..what's the planning about??...x100

The car looks great in the picture!..

And it got a good responce at the Tokyo Motor show, as Cartman from South Park would say,.."What's the problem bh!?"

[chedixon]

If there going to make the tii it needs to have a 2.0 turbo, efficient dynamics and a price tag of 25k max, anything other than that and I'll save myself 5 grand and buy a golf gti, as will anyone else with an ounce of sense. Don't get me wrong RWD is nice, but 5k is a lot of money in todays climate.
I am getting fed up with BMW ever increasing prices, so much so I think the Z4 might well be my last, they might be in for a real shock if the economy gets any worse.

[clarencegi77]

QUOTE- Sounds an interesting proposition but what I really want is for BMW and Lotus to join forces so they can stick the M3 CSL engine into an Exige-
ah, just wait for the next Espirit then... intresting idea, though...