Spy shots have come out of a "mystery BMW" concept on Autoblog.com, but analysis of what the pictures show, proves that it is the new 2011 or 2012 BMW 1-series - and even better news - a BMW 1-series sedan.. If you don't like the conservative design of the current 1-series, take a look at this sketch first.

As you can tell, it's obviously VERY inspired by the 70s and 80s BMWs, such as the original 6-series and the legendary BMW 2002. It also appears to be missing the Hofmeister kink that has become a nearly-unanimous staple of BMW design - out of all BMWs aside from convertibles, only the older 5-series wagon and the Z3 coupe didn't have it.

Now, this picture has leaked out and debuted on Bimmerpost.

Looks about right to me. Look closely at the pictures though, and you can see a small Hofmeister kink, like in the 70s - except the result reminds me a little bit of the Lexus IS sedan. The grill is forward-leaning like the Mitsubishi Lancer, but BMW did it before Mitsubishi did it, so nobody is ripping off anybody.

Look at how far forward the cut line after the front door has been placed. That tells me one thing - that what I've been looking at in pictures is a 1-series sedan. Or perhaps BMW is going old-school and cutting the sedan and coupe versions of the 1 out of the same body.

There is apparently a lot of space in between the tires and the wheel wells, but that could be due to the hookup on the tow truck. Speculators have suggested that this could be another "Gran Turismo" due to the ground clearance,  but I highly doubt it due to the close resemblance to the sketch.

Autobild.com had previously given us this rendering of the next 1-series, and the accuracy of their past renderings is nearly unquestioned.

Compare the two and it looks about right to me, except that the cut line after the door is quite a bit further up - suggesting that this could be a SEDAN - the first 1er sedan in BMW history, and surely the answer to any questions about the BMW 3-series gaining too much size and weight.

Look for the concept to debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The only real question so far is of whether it's a coupe or a sedan, but whichever one it is, it looks MIGHTY enticing.