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Spyshots: 2011 BMW 1 Series, Up, Close and... Still Disguised

Perhaps one of the most spied BMW's in our database, the next generation 1 Series is taking small, tormenting steps towards a late-2010, early-2011 reveal. Until then, we will add a new set of photos to the aforementioned database, with the car shot from touching distance.

Despite the close-up, the next 1 Series still wears the "you're getting sleepy..." disguise, so not much of the changes brought to the body are visible. Even if the chances were visible, some say, those expecting a revolution might have been disappointed. The car is said to retain much of the current design cues, with some modifications to be brought mostly to the front fascia.

The headlamps of the 1 Series will move up, making, together with the restyled kidney-grille, for a more aggressive look than on the current one. In addition, the foglights are no longer under the front bumper as in the current version, but on it and more to the center.

In addition to the 5-door version portrayed here, some say (and by some we mean Klaus Draeger, BMW's product development chief) the future 1 Series will receive an elongated shooting-brake two-door wagon variant. This would allow for the accommodation of passengers taller than the ones that can now fit in the 1 Series backseat.

The German manufacturer is also said to be working on a so-called "Supersport" version of the 1 Series. According to some reports, the Supersport will be positioned between the 135iS and the future M3.

The big changes are expected to come under the hood. As we told you already, BMW will go the EfficientDynamics-meets-small-displacement way. Some while back, an entire list of smaller engines, to be used both in the 1 and 3 Series, got leaked. The list includes units ranging from 1.35 liters I3 (122 hp) to 1.80 liters I4 (240 hp). All engines, as you undoubtedly guessed, are to be turbocharged.
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About the author: Daniel Patrascu
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Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies.
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