BMW's Concept Compact Sedan potentially presages a new 1 Series (pictures)
Debuting at the 2015 Guangzhou Auto Show in China, the BMW Concept Compact Sedan looks awfully close to being production ready. If it does come to market, it will likely arrive as a four-door complement to the diminutive 2 Series.
"The BMW Concept Compact Sedan reveals the potential we see in a compact sedan," said Adrian van Hooydonk, vice president of BMW Group Design. "The quality and intrinsic value...are clear signals of our premium intentions for the car."
The concept is a response to China's growing market for compact cars that are short on neither style nor substance.
Were it to come to market, it would likely do so as a 1 Series sedan, a complement to the 2 Series compact coupe already on sale around the world.
Rear-end design elements like the thinned-out taillights and chrome strip along the lower part of the bumper are also seen on the brand's all-new 7 Series flagship.
The interior looks equally production-ready as the exterior, with the same focus on horizontal arrangement as other cars in BMW's lineup.
That giant crystal shift knob won't likely make it to production.
LED headlight elements allow for even slimmer headlights than other current vehicles in the lineup.
Orange ambient lighting and design elements pay homage to the color that's been a staple of BMW's interior lighting for decades.
The taillights are LED, too.
It wouldn't be a BMW without a set of kidney grilles out front.
Despite being a compact sedan, BMW made sure to point out the vehicle's long wheelbase, which is a very strong buying point in the Chinese market.
Don't expect to seat three abreast in the back, though -- this is a car built for four individuals, not five.