New BMW 1-Series

THE BMW 3 Series has taken a page from the Marlon Brando playbook. As the legend increases, it grows more weighty, complicated and expensive.

The sight of a BMW sticker has become as shocking as that first glimpse of Col. Kurtz in "Apocalypse Now": bloated with options, 3 Series coupes approach $50,000, and the convertibles march toward 60 grand. Let's not even mention the new M3, a $56,000 car that some dealers inclined to piracy are marking up to more than $80,000.

And while BMW's new compact 1 Series has moved into the yawning gap below the 3, it is hardly a Hyundai-style bargain. Still, prices that start at $29,375 for the 128i coupe (and $33,875 for the convertible) at least nudge the BMW welcome mat in the right direction.

Just as important, the 1 Series doesn't give off a whiff of impostor luxury, as did the defunct Mercedes C230 coupe or BMW's 318ti hatchback. The four-seat 1 Series looks and feels legit. It shares its terrific engines with its pricier 3 Series and 5 Series brethren: a 3-liter in-line 6 with 230 horsepower for the 128i, a whip-cracking, twin-turbo 3-liter 6 with 300 horsepower for the 135i.

Perhaps leery of the skepticism that often greets entry-level luxury cars, BMW isn't promoting the 1 Series's price, stressing instead its pared-down size and spunky attitude.

BMW has tried to connect the dots between the 1 Series and its renowned 2002, the boxy, big-hearted sport coupe sold here from 1968 through 1976. Executives use the word "distilled" a lot, positioning the 1 Series as a lighter, purer spirit.

After spending a week each in the 128i convertible and 135i coupe, it's clear that this worldly, full-featured duo has almost nothing in common with the bare-bones 2002. Yet these smaller-scale BMWs deliver a wicked performance kick. That's especially true of the 135i coupe, which Car and Driver ran from a stoplight to 60 m.p.h. in 4.7 seconds. That's faster than many pure sports cars, including the Porsche Boxster S and Nissan 350Z.

Even the open-roofed 128i with a six-speed automatic transmission ?- the heaviest and ostensibly least sporty version ?- proved a starting player, not some bench-warming convertible. (Adding the 300-horsepower engine adds $6,000 to the convertible's base price, bringing it to $39,875). For either version, the softtop powers open or closed in a swift 22 seconds.

The 1 Series trims 8.4 inches from the 3 Series in length, 4 inches from the wheelbase and 1.4 inches in width. That makes this BMW a bonbon for urbanites. With its tight turning circle, the 1 Series proved especially maneuverable in the double-parked mayhem of Brooklyn and Manhattan.

What the 1 Series doesn't deliver is the weight loss you'd expect: the 135i coupe's 3,373 pounds are only about 200 less than the comparable 3 Series. Thanks largely to its lighter fabric top, the convertible saves a bit more weight, 3,494 pounds versus 3,792 for the 328i hardtop convertible.

Despite the heft, both coupe and convertible sparkle on the road with quiver-free structures; a nearly perfect 50-50 front-rear weight balance; and the satisfying handling, shifters and brakes that are at the heart of BMW's appeal (and arrogance). Muscular and perfectly pitched, the coupe's twin-turbo 6 put on a masterly performance in the rolling Catskills of New York. With each effortless run up its 7,000-r.p.m. scale, it reminded me why BMW gets away with its high ticket prices.

Inside, the 1 Series is comfortable but more intimate than its higher-numbered siblings. The driver and passenger perch closer together, their legs constrained by narrower footwells. The 1's switches, gauges and seats are familiar, but the dashboard shows some new curves.

Besides lighter weight, the coupe's critical edge over the convertible is a slightly larger back seat and a remarkably generous trunk for such a compact car. On a drive from New York to Rhode Island, the trunk accepted two wheeled carry-ons, a portable playpen, a stroller and a backpack. The rear seats fold down to extend the storage space.

The convertible demands more sacrifice for al fresco adventure. The rear armrests and backrests are somewhat bow-shaped to make room for the convertible top, chopping into shoulder room and hip space. Except for a brief boulevard cruise, the convertible's back seat is not a happy place for large adults. The trunk has less practical space, too, especially when the top is lowered.