May 22nd, 2011

BMW 1 Series M Coupé update

We’ve just had a look through the archives and realised that here at Motormorph we have been banging on about an uber hot BMW 1 Series for over two and a half years. Since being teased with the 135i Tii Concept in 2008 we have always wanted a big power, low weight entry level M-car. After years of rumours and speculation we were graced with the news of the BMW 1 Series M Coupé earlier this year. But now it is here in the UK and available to buy for £40,020 OTR.


What you get for that money is a thoroughbred mini M-car. There have been many cries from Bimmer fans to get something that harps back to the original E30 M3. With today’s regulation that is quite a feat to achieve. But BMW have tried their best by building a light weight, big power drivers’ car.

M cars normally get a brand new engine but in the M Coupe the engineers from BMW’s motorsport division have been fiddling with the twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six from the Z4. Chucking out 335 horses and 332 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels the M Coupe has no problem shaking its flared booty. When you are not going sideways you can go from zero to 62mph in 4.9 seconds and onto an electronically limited top speed of 155mph.

Leaving the newfangled fancy double clutch gearboxes firmly in the parts bin, BMW have stayed loyal to the conventional manual transmition to enhance the drivers’ experience. With extensive use of aluminium, weight is down to 1,495kg, giving the baby M a power to weight ratio of of 227bhp/tonne. As standard, the BMW 1 Series M Coupé comes with Variable M locking differential, compound brakes (from its bigger M3 brother), DSC with MDM and M Servotronic. M Dynamic Mode (MDM) dramatically changes the performance of the car, ensuring that drivers can get the most out of their pocket rocket. A newly developed dual-mass flywheel, with lightweight construction, benefits the engine’s efficiency and is better able to cope with its higher torque levels thanks to its increased solidity.

We will be sampling the brand new baby M for ourselves later this week, so stay tuned as there will be  a full road test in the next couple of weeks. But if you want a slice of this hot hatch pie, be quick as they are selling out fast. For more info on the BMW 1 Series M Coupé click here.

Words: Rowan Horncastle

 

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