A 5-Door 2012 BMW 1 series has been spied and photographed during winter testing, recently. It’s a good thing that the site isn’t called American Car Fans because North American dealings with this model will be on a look but don’t touch basis. There will be no true 1-series on this side of the Atlantic until at least 2014, from what I’ve heard. And, even then don’t expect the 5-door to make the trip. This is very disappointing news to someone with an affinity for stylish, sporty hatchbacks. If you’d like to know what driving a hatchback BMW is like without going to Europe, your best bet might be to get behind the wheel of a Mini. Or, maybe a competitor will fill the void with their own luxury compact and try to give North America what BMW won’t. A production version of the Lexus LF-Ch could serve that purpose if that doesn’t end up as a Europe only model too. By the way, if this is your first encounter with the term “5-door”, I’m talking about a 4-door hatchback (Don’t laugh – it confused me the first time, too!).

The next-generation BMW 3 Series will again be offered in number of body styles, including a wagon, coupe, and cabriolet, which will keep the heavy and complex retractable hardtop. BMW will also offer a five-door hatchback dubbed the “Gran Turismo” which is based off of the concept of the 5-series GT but will be more car-like and less imposing on the road.

BMW’s diesel-engine lineup will largely carry over in Europe, but there are imminent changes for its current range of rewarding but thirsty gasoline engines. Variable valve timing, single- and twin-turbocharging, direct fuel injection, and stop/start systems are in the works for a new generation of modular, four-cylinder engines producing 140 to 230 hp. A 2.0-liter version with close to 300 hp is possible, but we are optimistic BMW will keep at least one of its 3.0-liter inline-sixes in the portfolio.

The 3-series will be equipped with a wide array of features such as lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and speed-limit recognition. BMW’s night-vision system is technically possible but unlikely to be offered in the 3. However, you will be able to tinker with the engine and chassis setup by means of a “driving dynamics” button.The styling of the next 3 will be a rather conservative evolution of the current model, with a protruding kidney grill similar to that of the 7-series and the 5-series GT. The interior will look decidedly richer and will lose the center hump that houses the current model’s optional navigation system.

Look for the next 3-series at the 2012 Geneva auto show. It should arrive at U.S. dealers later in 2012 for the 2013 model year.