Previewed at the Paris Motor Show in the form of the Concept Active Tourer, the 1 Series GT has for the first time been spied in production guise. The first front-wheel drive model begins a new era of BMWs, underpinned by the new UKL1 platform to be shared with all baby Bimmers and Minis. A twin exhaust system on the 1 GT prototype hints at a high-performance variant of the compact minivan, and while the test mule shows off its side panels, the front and rear remain heavily cladded, giving nothing away in terms of headlight or fascia designs.

1 Series GT models will likely come with 3-cylinder, 4-cylinder and hybrid powertrain options. The plug-in hybrid eDrive system on the concept model paired a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine driving the front wheels with an electric motor powering the rear wheels when necessary. Rated at 190 horsepower, the powertrain is said to be good for a 0-62 sprint time of eight seconds. The 1 Series GT is expected to debut next spring, so a reveal at the Geneva Motor Show is a distinct possibility.