A few decades too soon.(Escape Roads)

Byline: ERIC TEGLER When Americans think of hot German hatchbacks, what mostly come to mind are Volkswagens, the earlier Rabbit-based GTI and the current Golf-based GTI. The BMW 316/318ti series aimed to be a part of that group, but it was roundly ignored by most people in this country. Fewer Americans still are aware of the first hatchback from Germany-not surprising since it was never sold here. Yet that car, the 2000 Touring, was simply a more versatile offshoot of the 2000/2002 series that put BMW on the map in the United States. The two-door 1600 coupe came to our shores in ...