That's been the standard cabrio photo going around for the 1 series. But I dunno if that's a '1' or a '2'. I think the hatchback is the 1, and the 'vert is the 2.
Mmmmmm.. M2 cabriolet.. 2.4l FI 240hp. M class handling and features, good hp. If it has a good price tag, I can see this making a decent dent in 3/4 series sales, especially if they really are going to be 'moderate' in price for the 1/2 series.
Good car to get more folks into bimmers. Remember not everyone can afford a new BMW, but many still desire one. This could get it into more driveways. Which leads to further sales of bigger cars..
From a corporate/financial standpoint, it makes perfect sense. They must be putting together some more facilities to handle all this, or cutting down the production #'s for certain series to be able to make all of these different models..
I'm rethinking getting the wife a 323ti or 325tiT in preference of waiting on this 1 series hatchback.. I've seen some other 'photos' of a 5 door version (4 doors + hatch). wonder if that's for real, or another tooled photo. (prolly a stretched 3 series iT I suspect)