Spyshots: 2014 BMW 1-Series Gran Turismo

The engineers and designers working for BMW have changed basically everything about the brand that we’ve come to known. The new styling is a clear departure from the past, while turbocharged 2.0-liter engines are rapidly replacing the old normally aspirated 3.0-liter straight six. In addition, the MINI-sourced 1.6-liter turbo is making its way not only under the bonnet of the 1-Series but also in bigger cars like the 5-Series.

The biggest change, however, comes in the form of front-wheel drive... the impure form of traction that BMW has shun away from until now. What does this mean for the cars we’ve come to like? Well, the 2014 BMW 1-Series Gran Turismo you see here is one of the victims. From the huge amount of interior space and the way the passengers are positioned.

We have to admit that we are puzzled by the fact that BMW just launched the new 1-Series, a model that's both sporty and economic. It's hard to believe they will remarket this model together with its coupe variant as the 2-Series in order to make room for a FWD car that rivals the VW Golf, yet there’s no denying such a model will exist. Keeping both RWD and FWD models under the 1-Series name and giving the Gran Turismo name at the end sounds like a much better option.

Thus, the 1-Series range will come to include the GT, plus three-door and five-door hatchback.

The 1-Series Gran Turismo will share its modular platform with the next MINI Cooper, a strategy that was outlined by BMW’s Chairman of the Board, Norbert Reithofer. “We will be extending the BMW and Mini brands into the small-car segment with new models and variants. For these new vehicles we could envisage developing a common architecture for both front- and four-wheel drive,” the official said at last year’s Geneva Motor Show.

Power will come from either three-cylinder units shared with MINI or four-pots, producing up to 200 horsepower.

A launch of the BMW 1-Series Gran Turismo is expected to come in late 2013.