2013 BMW 135i: Three-Door Model Caught Testing Bearing Little Coverage

The BMW 135i has been one of the more exciting releases by the German automaker, as of late, and the 2013 model year 135i is on its way. We already know that the 2013 will include a two-door coupe and a convertible model, as those are already in the 2012 lineup. We also know that BMW is releasing a five-door hatchback model in the European market. One thing we haven’t seen, at least until now, is a three-door hatchback model.

Just recently BMW was caught testing a 135i, bearing about as much coverage as a supermodel at a beach photo shoot, on the Nürburgring and it shows all of the markings of a three-door hatchback. You can judge for yourself, but from the spy shots we saw, it looks like the little bit of covering it has is going over where the door handle would normally be on a five-door model. This leads us to believe that BMW is trying to hide the fact that this model does not have a rear door handle, because there is no rear door. You can see our rendering of the three-door model above.

Before all of you hatchback lovers in the U.S. start salivating over this 300-horsepower hatchback that could easily push the Golf R aside, it appears as if this hot hatchback won’t make it to the U.S. this model year. For now, this little number will remain in Europe, much like its five-door sibling.

With the hatchback craze growing in the U.S., especially the high-performance hatchback movement, it only makes sense for BMW to release the three-door hatch 135i stateside. We will be bold and predict it to arrive late in the 2013 model year or maybe as an early 2014 model. Given the fact that the coupe and convertible models will already be available here, bringing the hatchback model across the pond likely won’t be a difficult task.