BMW Compact Sedan concept unveiled at Guangzhou Auto Show

Marking the entry of the 1 series in the compact sedan segment, the new concept car flaunts an exclusive Liquid Metal Bronze exterior that reflects different colours depending on the incidence of light; thanks to the fine pigments constituting it. The front fascia has the look of a typically slick beamer with a twin kidney grille, cat eye LED headlamps and a sharp end-to-end air intake vent design. Chiselled surfaces and polished aluminium windows in a seamless frame connecting both boxes beef up the sides, while 20-inch alloy wheels scream style under the almost circular wheel arches on all four corners.

On the inside, the car features a very BMW-ish dashboard with open-pored wood and brushed aluminium trim that complement the Nappa leather seats, a heads-up display, and orange-coloured accent lighting. The climate control system, panoramic glass roof and a freestanding infotainment system with an 8.8inch display are other highlights in the indoors of the saloon.

“The BMW Concept Compact Sedan reveals the potential we see in a compact sedan,” said BMW Group design boss, Adrian van Hooydonk. “It not only gives the driver and passengers generous amounts of space within a compact area but does so while providing the sporting ability you’d expect from BMW and an elegance otherwise only available in large BMW sedans. The quality and intrinsic value of the BMW Concept Compact Sedan are clear signals of our premium intentions for the car.”

The makers have remained tight-lipped about the Powertrain of this new machine, but it is expected to ride on the UKL platform and come with various three- and four-cylinder engines as options for different variants.

The elegant compact saloon will rival the likes of Mercedes-Benz’s CLA and Audi’s A3 Sedan. It is expected to be based on the same front-drive platform as the current 2-Series Active Tourer models and the next generation of the 1-Series hatchback, possibly offering BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system as an option.