CN CONFIDENTIAL: The case of the dueling '1's

BMW's entry-level hatches suffer identity crisis; structural rigidity a matter of material concern for Lambo and Audi; plus Malaysian journos like 'our' Optima

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Front-drive 1 Series?
BMW will break with tradition by simultaneously selling two completely different cars -- and calling them both 1 Series -- as early as 2013.

Sources inside the Bavarian company have confirmed the company will sell both front- and rear-drive 1 Series-branded cars within two to three years.

The two unique 1 Series versions will have overlapping model cycles, with the rear-drive versions due for a new, 3-Series-based architecture later this year, while the front-drive versions will use BMW's all-new UKL platform.

Yet, bizarrely, BMW's product planners see no option but to market both of its otherwise-separate models as 1 Series cars.

The potentially confusing scenario will be clarified somewhat by giving the rear-drive 1 Series cars more horsepower, while the front-drivers will be aimed more at fleet customers, sources suggested. Our informants also tell us that the new, front-driving '1' will offer an extra 10cm of length in the cabin, compared with the rear-drive models.

And if a front-wheel drive 1 Series sounds a lot like, well... a MINI, we'll place good money on the new car being a little more commodious and a long way removed from the MINI in character.


Next Lamborghini Gallardo
Its all-new big brother might boast a thumping V12 engine and a carbonfibre chassis, but don't expect the next Gallardo to follow suit when it arrives in 2013.

While Lamborghini has pushed its parent company, Audi, to let it stretch its carbon-manufacturing abilities down to the smaller, higher-volume Gallardo, Audi's Quattro GmbH division is pushing back even harder to keep the cheaper all-aluminium space-frame chassis for the R8.

With senior Audi sources insisting the architecture of the cars will be twinned into the foreseeable future, Lamborghini and Quattro can't both win and, sources inside Quattro insist, the next R8 won't be a carbon-based life form.

That means the Gallardo won't be, either, even though that will leave the sub-Aventador carbonfibre supercar market to McLaren.


'Aussie' Optima for the Malays
Malaysian journalists are lobbying Kia in their home country for Kia's Optima to be sold there with the same suspension tune as the Aussie-spec cars.

The Malaysians were here for the launch of the Optima on Australian turf and were plainly pretty impressed with the car.

We can't help feeling that typical Malaysian drivers may not be as enamoured of the Australian suspension tune as their journalists are. And in a world where the customer is always right, it's our guess that no matter how much the journos push for the locally-developed ride/handling dynamics, those who stump up the money for the cushy ride and lifeless steering will win out.

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