BMW 1 Series GT Bound For Paris: Report

BMW's so-named 1 Series Gran Turismo could make its global debut in the coming weeks, according to reports out of Europe this week.

While no sources were revealed, British magazine Auto Express reports that BMW has confirmed a Paris Motor Show unveiling in September.

Photos of the new car under test earlier this year reveal a taller profile than the regular rear-wheel-drive 1 Series, focusing on ease of access and MPV-like interior space.

Sharing its underpinnings with the next-generation MINI Cooper, the 1 Series GT is believed to be the first of many new front-wheel-drive BMW cars.

Power for the new hatch is expected to come from a new 1.5 litre three-cylinder petrol engine, producing more than 75kW. Four-cylinder engines are also expected, including a diesel option.

“The car will have to fit with BMW’s traditions, which means it will still be fast with good handling – so 100bhp is a bare minimum. The MINI versions will be less powerful," a BMW source was quoted by Auto Express.