Spied: 2017 BMW 1-Series sedan

Our spy photographers have sent us the first images of BMW’s upcoming compact sedan. Set to take on vehicles like the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz CLA, the small sedan will slot beneath the 3-Series in BMW’s lineup.

Given BMW’s latest naming structure – which uses odd numbers for sedans and evens for coupes – this compact four-door should launch as the 1-Series. However, as demonstrated by the five-door 2-Series Active Tourer, BMW isn’t always keen to follow suit.

Whatever the name, this pint-sized four-door will likely ride on BMW’s front-wheel drive UKL platform. BMW recently launched its latest UKL architecture beneath the MINI Cooper.

The 1-Series sedan will undoubtedly be available with four-cylinder power, but it’s possible that the three-cylinder from the MINI could also be offered. We’ve also heard rumors about a high-performance 1M model, which would use a turbocharged four-cylinder to produce 360 horsepower. To get over the traction problems associated with front-wheel drive, the 1M would employ a version of BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive.

BMW is late to the compact sedan party, but the 1-Series should be ready to hit showrooms sometime in 2016 as a 2017 model.