While an auto enthusiast knows how to find the right car, the "snob shopper" that wants a $30K car will not accept this peace offering. Americans can be a pretentious sort and the only real reason BMW 3 series exist is so that entry level manager types can feel important. We seem to think that the more we pay for something, the cooler it must be. This reason, among others, is why we lag 3-5 years behind the rest of the world in technologies. We are more concerned about how we look than getting a good deal or even keeping, unless it's keeping up appearances.
With that said, this car will need some serious PR to get off the ground. A movie, a music video, one of the never ending stream of juvenile shows on the WB. It seems like it will be a great little car, built for a very fickle consumer.