While we only know the BMW 1-Series in the U.S. as a coupe, the car originally debuted in Europe as a hatchback in 2004. BMW's been hard at work on an update and our eagle-eyed spy photographers have caught a test mule at the Nurburgring that may well be an xDrive AWD model.
Attached to this latest batch of pictures from Germany was a note that the camo'd up 1 Series hatch seen here is running a rather unusual set of wheels. Our veteran spy photographers noted that these funky-looking wheels are typically only seen on BMW prototypes that are equipped with BMW's xDrive AWD system. While we've heard several rumors about the future of the 1 Series, an AWD model wasn't among them and would make for a pleasant surprise. It wouldn't be hard for BMW to do either, what with the 1 Series-based X1 SUV soon to debut as an AWD model.
Should the 1 Series come with xDrive, it makes you wonder about the differentiation between that car and the X1 SUV. Rather than have two vehicles who's only difference is their ride height and ground clearance, it's likely that BMW would work to distinguish the two and would likely tune the 1 Series for performance driving rather than off-road prowess. However BMW plans to proceed, we're hoping that this could mean an xDrive AWD 1 Series coupe in the future, one which could come to our shores. Perhaps it could be that 1 Series M model that BMW is looking into? We can only hope.
Thanks to: Motor Trend