The time has finally arrived, the BMW body obscuring cladding has come off the next generation 1-Series hatchback (F20). The car has grown in size to parallel the car’s growth in popularity and aims to improve upon the original 1-Series. It goes without saying that quality will be improved, but what these pictures confirm is what has so far been speculation regarding styling.

The next generation 1-series will fall in line with the rest of the BMW range. The car has a newly sculpted hood reminiscent of the F10 5-series and F25 X3 with sharp and hyper crisp body sculpting line running from the front fender through the door handles to the rear in an aggressive arc. The front and rear bumpers too follow the current BMW … CONTINUED

BMW has announced the North American availability of BMW Performance brand accessories for the trendsetting X5 Sports Activity Vehicle®. The new BMW Performance parts for the X5 include aerodynamic components, aluminum pedals, special kidney grilles, and a new flat-bottom Sport steering wheel. The new accessories go on sale at Authorized BMW Centers this month.

Aerodynamics

Directly from BMW’s state-of-the-art Munich wind tunnel comes the comprehensive new BMW Performance Aero Kit for the 2011 X5 (excluding X5 M and models equipped with trailer hitch). The Aero Kit, which includes redesigned front and rear bumper covers and side skirts, is specifically sculpted to reduce aerodynamic drag and lift at high speeds, improving stability while making a dramatic, stylish statement. Additionally, BMW Performance has made available a set of black kidney … CONTINUED

Two FWD BMW variants are coming according to Autocar - a FWD 5-door hatchback and a FWD touring / station wagon model. It’s scheduled to arrive in UK showrooms in 2013 and is expected to have a roomier layout/interior than RWD 1-series variants due to lack of transmission tunnel and more forward A-pillar design.

The engine options will include a 3 cylinder and turbocharged 4 cylinder engine options. The 3 cylinder will be 1.5L diesel and petrol versions and the 4 cylinder will be 2.0L turbo diesel and petrol versions, with start-stop technology, KERS, and heat recovery system. Finally, there’s potential for a ‘ti’ performance variant with 220hp 2.0L turbo 4 cylinder motor!

News reports overnight indicate that infact MINI might be working on a new micro MINI. Whats more, the small car would actually be designed and built to be sold under the BMW brand according to MINI boss Wolfgang Armbrecht. Its not clear if Mr. Armbrecht is referring to platform sharing between BMW and MINI or if such a project would be headup by the MINI division and then given to BMW.
“We have always been motivated by the idea to build a small spacious car, [...] Keep a close eye on the coming months.”

With that quote, the automotive press is speculating that the car may arrive at an autoshow soon, possibly even the NAIAS in Detroit which takes place early January. If not Detroit, … CONTINUED

On 1 March 2011, Karim Habib will take on the post of Head of Exterior Design BMW Automobiles, replacing Anders Warming. The 40-year-old designer already spent the first 10 years of his career working for the BMW Group, during which time he was responsible for the current BMW 7 Series range and the BMW Concept CS. Habib now returns to the Group following an absence of two years.

On completing his studies in California, Karim Habib held various posts in interior and exterior design before being appointed Team Leader, Advanced Design for the BMW Group. Following two intervening career years, he now returns to head the Exterior Design BMW Automobiles department.

Here is a neat look at a recent cinema advertising campaign undertaken by BMW which utilizes a phenomenon called the After-Image Effect. The After-Image Effect is the visual effect one experiences when looking at a bright light source (such as the sun or camera flash) and the spots one sees when closing the eyes immediately afterwards.

In this ad, the BMW letters flashes momentarily towards the end of the ad and the viewers were asked to close their eyes immediately after conclusion of the ad spot. What they saw was a lingering BMW sign. Viola, the first advertising commercial that doesn’t use a directly visible logo! Oh, and the ad isn’t too shabby either - featuring sportbike champ Ruben Xaus.

* Note: this … CONTINUED

Here is the first ever look at the production 2011 ActiveHybrid 5-series (F10) during testing. The upcoming 2011 5-series hybrid will be powered by BMW’s N55 turbo six cylinder motor (which makes 306hp in the 535i), mated to an electric motor making 54 more horsepowers. We are likely not looking at the final body work as there will be unique wheels and bumper styling, but expect it to come in the Bluewater Metallic seen in the photos, a signature color for BMW hybrid vehicles. Production is set to begin in 2011.

Skiddmark has shared this great in studio video of the 1M coupe, featuring a live rotating view of the 1M as well as some motor revving action! Video inside - listen to the 1M being revved at 1:52 and 4:12 marks of the video.

The F10 M5 has been spotted undergoing another season’s worth of winter testing in northern Sweden. It’s spotted here with snow wheels/tires for testing purposes and are not the wheels we’ve come to know as the production wheels. The last time we saw the F10 M5 during winter testing it was nearly completely camouflaged, but it’s been over 9 months of slow strip tease by BMW since then. The mirrors are also from the regular F10 5-series. The significance of these photos is simply that the M5 continues testing, now in the wintery conditions of Sweden.

We have posted some older spy photos below (from the Nurburgring) which shows what the production front bumper, rear bumper, side mirrors, and wheels will resemble.

The F10 M5 concept will bow … CONTINUED