Flash.(Briefs)

1 Series showing

Don't spend too much time studying this photo of the new top-of-the-line BMW 130i hatchback premiering in Geneva in March and going on sale in Europe later this year. It's what lies under the sheetmetal that counts for U.S. customers.

Once BMW hammers out the styling on a 1 Series sedan for the U.S. market, look for our 130i to arrive in 2006 with the same powertrain as its Euro counterpart. That means the top-of-the-line 130i will pack a 3.0-liter, 258-hp, 221-lb-ft inline six mated to a six-speed manual, which should be good for 0 to 60 mph in about 6.0 seconds.

BMW says the 130i's handling has not been adversely affected by the larger engine, noting the 130i has lapped the Nurburgring in eight minutes, 35 seconds, just 20 seconds shy of the 3.2-liter 343-hp M3.

B-Class no show

Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz has delayed plans to introduce its small entry-level luxury hatch, the B-Class, in the States this November. Citing worries over the weak dollar's impact on profits from the German-built vehicle, the company says the U.S. launch won't come until 2007 at the earliest, our sister paper Automotive News reports. Earlier this year Mercedes decided to delay the Smart ForMore, a small sport/utility, due to cost concerns (AW, Jan. 3).

The company will go ahead with plans to introduce the B-Class in Canada and Mexico this year, and will also proceed on schedule with U.S. sales of the larger, high-end ...