Rumors: BMW to Reveal 1-Series Grand Turismo at the Paris Motor Show [with Spy Video]

There's a lot going on at BMW these days but no project is bound to be more divisive than the firm's first front-wheel drive model, the upcoming 1-Series Grand Turismo, which was previously known by the acronym F.A.S.T., which stands for Family Activity Sports Tourer.

Citing inside sources, the crew over at the BMW Blog reported that the 1-Series GT would make its world premiere at the upcoming 2012 Paris Motor Show this fall.

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Spy Shots: New BMW M135i with 320HP 3.0-liter Turbocharged Six

Earlier this week, BMW blew the covers off the first models of its new M Performance sub-brand, namely the M550d, X5 M50d and X6 M50d.

But that's only the beginning as the German firm plans to expand the range to include if not all, most of its models including the 1-Series five-door hatchback, a prototype of which our scoop photographers caught while testing in Europe (albeit with a fake 118i moniker on the tailgate).

So far, the most powerful model of the new 1-Series hatch is the recently announced 125i sporting a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine that puts out 218bhp and 310Nm (228 lb-ft) propelling the five-door model to 100km/h (62mph) in 6.4 seconds and on to a maximum velocity of 245 km/h (152mph).

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BMW Adds 125i, 125d and 116d EfficientDynamics Edition Plus M Sports Package to New 1-Series

The new 1-Series five-door hatchback is the next BMW after the 3-Series to benefit from the addition of a fresh batch of engines. The new models presented in Europe are the diesel-powered 125d and 116d EfficientDynamics Edition, and the gasoline-powered 125i.

Beginning with the latter, the 125i gets a new 2.0-litre four-cylinder gasoline with a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct injection delivering 218bhp at 5,000 rpm and peak torque of 310Nm (228 lb-ft) between 1,350 and 4,800 rpm. With a six-speed manual, the 125i sprints to 100km/h (62mph) in 6.4 seconds (8-speed automatic transmission: 6.5 seconds), reaching a top speed of 245 km/h or 152mph (243 km/h).

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BMW Factory Tour Shows us what it Takes to build the New 1-Series Hatch

Modern automobile plants are an impressive sight to watch in action, but few outsiders actually get the chance to see one in person.

BMW wants to give us a taste of how one of its main factories in Germany located in the city of Regensburg works to produce the latest 1-Series five-door hatchback through a quick video tour of the plant.

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SCOOP: Design Patents of 2012 BMW 1-Series in Three-Door Trim Appear in China

Earlier this year, BMW lifted the curtains on the second generation of its 1-Series model range with the launch of the five-door hatchback model.

We already knew that the Bavarians were working on expanding the series with a number of body styles including a three-door hatchback, the two-door coupe and cabriolet and possibly, a longer Gran Turismo version similar to the upcoming 3-Series GT.

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Hyundai America Nabs BMW Designer Christopher Chapman

If there's one thing that Hyundai and Kia can lay claim to, is that both companies eventually understood the importance of design and made significant efforts to improve the styling of their vehicles in the past few years.

To achieve their goal, the Koreans didn't hesitate to bring in experienced designers from other brands, with the most notable transfer being that of Peter Schreyer from Audi who took over and revolutionized Kia's design language.

The South Korean group continues to inject its brands with foreign designers, with its latest hire being Christopher Chapman of former BMW fame. Chapman was named chief designer of the Hyundai Design Center in Irvine, California, and will be responsible for new vehicle and concept design for Hyundai.

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Essen Motor Show: AC Schnitzer Adds Speed and Style to New BMW 1-Series F20

Making its world premiere at this week's 2011 Essen Motor Show in Germany is AC Schnitzer's tuning program for the new BMW 1-Series F20 hatchback with both styling and performance upgrades.

AC Schnitzer starts with a power kit that is available initially on the four-cylinder diesel models of the 1-Series, which get a reprogrammed engine control unit and other unspecified mods. In the 118d, output is lifted from 143HP to 171HP, while in the 120d, from 184HP to 210HP.

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Kelleners Sport Begins Work on New 2012 BMW 1-Series Hatchback [F20]

With the first examples of the brand-new 2012 BMW 1-Series 5-door hatchback (codenamed F20) having already reached showrooms across Europe, the aftermarket industry is tuning into the Bavarian firm's smallest model.

Germany's Kelleners Sport is one of the first tuning firms to reveal details about its upcoming program for the new 1-Series.

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BMW Singapore Pulls a Performance Prank on 1-Series Coupe Owner [Video]

In one of the more intriguing marketing stunts we've seen of late, BMW of Singapore has launched a part-promotional, part-prank project entitled "Switch".

The Bavarian automaker describes the gig thusly: "The BMW Switch is a fun collaborative project between the public and BMW Asia to switch unsuspecting BMW drivers' current cars with a similar model that has been enhanced with original BMW Performance Accessories."

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