BMW's new 1-Series, due for launch in Europe towards the end of next year, will be a hatchback in Europe and a saloon (above) in the US.
The car, aimed at the likes of the Audi A3, will be the only rear-drive car of its size on the market and will share up to 40 per cent of its components with the 3-Series.
It will be built initially at BMW's plant in Regensburg, Germany, but could be produced in other BMW plants if there is enough demand.
BMW chief executive Helmut Panke says the 1-Series will be nearly identical in size to the BMW 2002, the predecessor model to the 3-Series some 35 years ago. "It will pick up where the 2002 started 35 years ago," he said. "It won't be cheap and will be the only rear-drive car of its size."
READ MORE
- Michael McAleer