BMW is going small. That was the message from the Bavarians at the Geneva motor show which opened this week. They want a share of the burgeoning hatchback market, particularly that occupied by cars like the go-faster VW Golfs with GTi badging.
Officially, BMW was presenting its CS1 concept car. The truth, however, is that CS1 is the 1-series thinly disguised. 1-series is due to make its appearance in late 2004, propitiously at around the same time as an all-new VW Golf arrives on the scene.
Only a cabriolet was presented at the show. However, 1-series will come in other forms, hatchback, of course, as well as saloon, estate and coupé. It will probably be the most affordable BMW since the famous and much loved 2002, which was around from 1966 to 1977.
BMW see the 1-series occupying the space between the Mini and the 3-series Compact. Engines are likely to range from a 105 bhp 1.6 litre to a 143 bhp 2.0 litre.
Elsewhere at the show, MPVs, big and a bit smaller, were in abundance. Renault presented an all-new Espace with more luxury than ever. Heating and ventilation can be customised to every occupant in all three seating rows, thanks to new air outlets on the ceiling and floor of the cabin. Espace is a venerable badge now: it was Europe's first real people carrier when launched in 1984.
The French at Peugeot and Citroen along with the Italians from Fiat produced respective MPV successors to the 806, Synergie and Ulysse. Only the Citroen has a new name, C8. All three are the progeny of a tripartite venture and are almost identical mechanically. The styling this time around makes it easier to tell them apart.
Geneva was the launch pad of Peugeot's 307SW, which seems like another challenge for the Renault Scenic and other family MPV ilk like the Opel Zafira and even the Citroen Picasso, its cousin. The 307SW boasts seven individual removable seats. Engine options include a 1.6 litre petrol and 2.0 litre diesel.
A Swiss coachbuilding company, Rinspeed, attracted a lot of attention with its urban solution for too many cars looking for too few spaces. The car shrinks or contracts at the touch of a button, from 3,742 mm to 2,996 mm.
The Rinspeed car is called Presto and it uses a Mercedes-Benz A-Class engine. What can we say, except Hey Presto!