I find it extremely interesting that somebody can post a thread complaining that there was too little hype being placed upon the arrival of the 1-Series to North American shores. Interesting, because not too long after BMW announced plans to offer/sell the 1-Series in North America another manufactuer introduced plans to build a 1-Series competitor and I see hardly any attention has been placed on this car from just some small German automaker named Mercedes. The Mercedes BLK is Mercedes answer to the 1-Series. Not a whole lot of info is available for the car, but speculation has claimed it will be offered first as a coupe. Then eventually as a hatchback and convertible versions. Speculation has also claimed that the top model BLK350 will have a 3.5L (Supercharged?) 6-Cylinder. No Idea on transmission options and weight, and being that the BLK is based off of a smaller modified C-Class platform, weight should be a good 200Lbs or less than the 3400 to 3500Lbs C-Class. Problem though is this car is suppose to be a 2010 or 2011 model, hopefully Mercedes can get this car built and on sale sooner than that. Like I said to evom.net member Soon2BEGONE the 1-Series is an awesome car but let's not already crown it king and bust out champagne before it has taken on what will be a list of fierce competitors in the near future.

 

I firmly believe the $30,000 to $40,000 car market will be the hottest segment in the car world for the next decade or so.

 

I hope thats not the one coming to the U.S.because we all know the about the first hatchback fiasco, the c230 with the cloth seats. This one doesn't look much better.

 

Yeah I remember that car, but that car was meant for an even younger crowd and think was priced under $30,000 (around $26,000 I believe). But proves my point earlier in another thread that while a Mercedes, BMW, and others build great cars, a $26,000 (or $35,000) car is still a $26,000 car. Despite that the BLK should be better, I hope.

Also keep an eye out for this next month @ Frankfurt autoshow-




Saab Turbo X-
280hp+ AWD