BMW Heads to Facebook for 1 Series

Hey twentysomethings, there’s a new BMW in town: It’s the 1 Series and it starts for under $30,000 so it’s a BMW you might actually be able to afford.

That’s not actually the advertising copy from BMW but the company is using roughly half of its ad budget to push the 1 Series — estimated from $15 million to $25 million — on online media, including Facebook. On the social media site, users will get to build their own 1 series and send it to friends. The company hopes to woo new shoppers to the brand who may have never considered it before.

BMW will also advertise on Yahoo! and MSN, but the Facebook move gets our attention most. The company will have virtual road trips from one Facebook page to another. We’re not sure how that will work but the gist is to get the shopper — and his or her friends — involved and not to cram the message down their throats.

What do you think? Would an interactive ad motivate you towards a car or do you just want to see something traditional?

BMW Turns to the Web for Its 1-Series (New York Times)

Video: BMW 1 Series

When BMW introduced its new 1 Series at the L.A. auto show, we had a lot of questions. Would the 1 Series live up to the high standards of the brand? Would it come in costing less than $30,000 yet still maintain any excitement? Would it steal business from its best-selling cousin, the 3 Series? Cars.com senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder takes a closer look at the 1 Series to shed some light on the company’s much-anticipated new addition.

BMW 1 Series Priced Less Than $30,000

BMW's new 1 Series coupe will have a base price including destination of $29,375 for the 128i and $35,675 for the 135i. The 128i is powered by a 230-hp inline-six that can hit 60 mph from a standstill in 6.1 seconds with the manual transmission, while the 135i does the run a whole second quicker. Under the 135i's hood sits the BMW's 300-hp twin-turbo six-cylinder.

The coupe hits dealerships in spring 2008, and a convertible version of the 1 Series will be shown at the Detroit auto show in January.

Related
More on the LA Auto Show
More on the BMW 1 Series

BMW 1 Series Convertible Coming This Spring

• Competes with: Mini Cooper S, Audi A3
• Looks like: A slightly smaller, less aggressive BMW Z4
• Drivetrain: 230-hp, 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder or 300-hp, turbocharged 3.0-liter  six-cylinder
• Hits dealerships: 128i this spring, 135i later in 2008

We went gaga over the 135i coupe when we first saw it and learned that it would indeed be coming stateside. Now that we know the lineup will include more affordable 128i coupe and convertibles — in both 128i and 135i powerplants — we’re even more excited.

How can we get excited without ever having driven a two-door 1 Series? Because BMW promises a pure driving car without too much gadgetry getting in the way. However, iDrive is available with the navigation system.

The convertible top can be retracted in 22 seconds at speeds up to 25 mph. Raising the roof takes the same amount of time. There’s a standard soft-top in black or taupe, plus an optional version in black with shiny metallic fibers that the company says shine silver in the sun. The optional sun-reflective leather found on the new 3 Series convertible is also offered here.

BMW says two golf bags will fit in the trunk when the top is retracted, but we’ll believe that when we see it. Keep reading for more photos.

BMW Launches 1 Series Minisite

We know some of you may be getting sick of 1 Series information this week, but since it is an entirely new line for U.S. buyers, it’s a big deal and we’re going to treat it as such. To go along with yesterday’s photos and video released to the press, BMW’s consumer website has now devoted a considerable amount of space to a model months before it will be available to buyers.

There are nine beautiful wallpaper-sized images to download that, we’ll admit, look better than the dozens in our press photo gallery. You can also sign up for updates from BMW.

Now back to your pre-4th of July planning.

BMW USA

Now on YouTube: BMW 135i

The above video is what’s called B-roll in the TV industry. That means news programs or other broadcast shows play this in the background while an anchor talks over it. Usually B-roll is boring stuff, but BMW’s simple B-roll video of the 135i makes us want one really, really badly. Like right now. Spring 2008 seems a long time away. People may be camping out in front of their local BMW dealers for this one.

Carscoop via Jalopnik

Related
U.S.-Bound BMW 1 Series Revealed (KickingTires)
The Great BMW 1 Series Debate: U.S. Bound in 2009? (KickingTires)

U.S.-Bound BMW 1 Series Revealed

The Internet has been abuzz with news of a pint-size BMW hitting U.S. shores, and the official news and photos are finally here. The 1 Series, while a two- and three-door hatchback overseas, will come to the U.S. as a two-door coupe in the spring of 2008, followed later by a convertible.

The coupe will be offered in two trims, 128i and 135i. The 135i will be powered by a 300-hp twin-turbo six-cylinder engine, the same unit as in the 335i coupe and sedan we tested last year. The 128’s 230-hp six-cylinder is also the same unit that powers the 328i.

Unfortunately, we don’t have pricing information and can barely speculate as to what it will be. A wild guesstimate would be a range of $25,000-$35,000 for a fully equipped 135i, which BMW says will outperform the Porsche Cayman S.

The 1 Series will come with iDrive if buyers opt for the navigation system. Most buyers will be happier with other technology offered, like Bluetooth and an optional USB port. 

We’re amazed this model is actually in existence; even with such a high enthusiast demand, we still think the price will determine the 1 Series’ success.

BMW 1 Series Photo Gallery