Preview - BMW 128i and 135i Coupes Coming in March

I've always been a fan of the engineers at BMW. No, it's not just great marketing; when you hear how smooth and luxurious driving a BMW is, it's all true. The name has become synonymous with excellent execution, quality engineering, and all-around fun driving. Unfortunately, this excellence is also known for coming at a sometimes prohibitive cost - until now.

The BMW 1-series, with the 128i model starting at just $28,000, is set for United States release in March, 2008. The 128i will feature a 230 horsepower inline-6 engine, while the 135i will sport a 300 horsepower twin-turbo. The numbers don't sound very impressive until you take a look at the car itself. A 300HP twin-turbo power plant inside of a car that resembles what a Mazda3 would look like as a coupe is nothing to shrug at, especially considering the cost. In addition to this, a convertible version is rumored to be available as well, though a release date hasn't been confirmed.

The interior promises to be as elegant as every other vehicle in BMWs lineup, with leatherette or genuine leather upholstery, options of wood or aluminum dashboard trims, and lots of premium options like heated seats, power everything, and high definition sound systems with mp3 support.

Though I haven't had a chance to take one out for a spin just yet, I can predict almost certainly that the 1-series is not for those of us living in snowy states. With no all wheel drive options and a relatively small design, I can only imagine that they will be a horror story to drive with ice and snow decorating the highways. Rear wheel drive is difficult enough to deal with when the weather gets rough, but the compact design will probably lead to traction problems of its own. Of course it's far too early to judge, but it seems to me that for only a few grand more a 3-series may be a better investment for northerners.

Snow or no, if you're a fan of BMW or have heard good things and think the 1-series may be your way of joining the club, I'd recommend heading over to the BMW USA website and customizing your own. They may not stand out in any significant way stylistically from others in the lineup, but the 128i and 135i are neat concepts that, at the very least, are worth taking a look at. Whether you are an enthusiast or just a commuter, BMW makes great cars, and it's doubtless that the 1-series will perform above and beyond expectations.