First look: 1 way for BMW

YOU'RE looking at the first clues to the appearance of BMW's forthcoming 1 Series small car, the CS1 convertible concept which will debut at the Geneva motor show next week.

While this particular four-seater drop-top is unlikely to make production, many of the styling and mechanical ideas incorporated in it are expected to feature in the hatchback BMW is tipped to introduce in 2005.

The 1 will sit between the Mini and the 3 Series in BMW's range, but despite its size it will still sit its four-cylinder engine lengthways and drive the rear wheels in true BMW style. No transverse engine layout or front wheel drive here! While there are distinctive BMW styling cues such as the kidney grille, dual headlights and short overhangs, BMW chief designer Chris Bangle has injected some new ideas like the concave side sills that form distinctive creases at the top and bottom of the panels.

The interior is just as innovative with one aluminium rail running across the cabin and making the dashboard appear to "float", while another rail bisects the cabin lengthwise. Neoprene - wetsuit material - is also used plentifully in the cabin.

And iDrive, the controversial cabin control system which made its production debut in the 7 Series luxury car, also appears here. This controls all the car's major interior functions through a computer mouse-like wheel located behind the gearstick.

The CS1 is powered by BMW's 1.8-litre Valvetronic engine, which develops 85kW. The engine is mated to a Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG) with steering wheel paddles.

The show car delivers its power to the road via 18-inch alloy wheels with 215/45 tyres up front and 235/40 tyres at the rear.

"The CS1 is not a mini version of BMW's larger cars," the company said in a statement.

"Rather, it demonstrates most convincingly that in the future each BMW model series will have its own very special character."