RE: BMW M Division Wants A 1-series M

RE: BMW M Division Wants A 1-series M

Monday 16th November 2009

BMW M Division Wants A 1-series M

Boss of BMW M division says a hot 1-series is on his wishlist



The next BMW 1-series could spawn a full-house M-sport version, if M division boss, Dr Kay Segler, gets his way.

"The priority right now is a more affordable model underneath the M3," says Dr Segler.

Of course the 302bhp 135i coupe already provides quite a lot of sub-M3 high-performance fun, but a 1-series M could apparently either be aimed a little lower down, towards the Audi S3 corner of the market, or as a harder-edged, more focused alternative to the 135i.

Could it be too much to dream that this might actually mean a stripped-out, lightweight spiritual successor to the original E30 M3? Maybe, but hope springs eternal...

Power should come either from a massaged version of the 135i's twin-turbo or, more likely, from a high-performance version of that engine's successor, the new twin-scroll, single turbo TwinPower motor. Either way, expect a power output of around 330bhp.

And the name? There's one obvious choice, but we can't imagine BMW reviving the hallowed M1 moniker for anything other than a proper mid-engined supercar...

We won't find out whether BMW will come good on the 1-series M idea for a while, however - the new 1-series isn't due for a couple of years yet, and an M version would take a couple of years longer still to hit the showroom.

Author
Discussion

Dr G

Original Poster:

15,159 posts

241 months

Monday 16th November 2009
quotequote all
Dear M division - please please please please please please please remove about 300 kilos from the kerb weight of this big-little fatarse.

adycav

7,615 posts

216 months

Monday 16th November 2009
quotequote all
A hard-core, lighter version of the 135i retaining the decent brakes and having a few select BMW Performance bits (seats, exhaust) could be a very good car indeed.

Edit to add - I prefer N/A cars (especially for my 'M' cars) but I think we have to accept that those days are gone - the quest for better mpg/emissions has led to that.

Edited by adycav on Monday 16th November 11:42


Edited by adycav on Monday 16th November 11:42

Stevesh

87 posts

211 months

Monday 16th November 2009
quotequote all
I liked that si version that was suggested a year or so ago. Light, 2000bhp ish and cheap enough to buy in the real world!

Steve

DJC

23,563 posts

235 months

Monday 16th November 2009
quotequote all
DJC's dream BMW...a 1M coupe CSL. Gimme some little front wing edges and a batmobile rear wing.

I will be happy. Very happy.

ZOLLAR

19,908 posts

172 months

Monday 16th November 2009
quotequote all
I'd love to see a proper M claass 1 series!
I'd also like to see BMW do a concept for a Mid engined supercar again possibly under the M1 badge again even if they didnt do it (current economical climate) it would still be nice to revive it
i dont think the original M1 got enough credit!!

Zod

35,295 posts

257 months

Monday 16th November 2009
quotequote all
I would much, much prefer this to those ridiculous M-Power Trucks, the X5 M and X6 M.

The X6 M richly deserved to beat the Panamera into seond place in Evo's Turkey of the Year category. It is a travesty.

RobM77

35,349 posts

233 months

Monday 16th November 2009
quotequote all
Dr G said:
Dear M division - please please please please please please please remove about 300 kilos from the kerb weight of this big-little fatarse.
yes The 135i weighs more than the outgoing E46 330ci, which is ridiculous. The 1 series is the new 3 series basically, like the Lupo was the old Polo and the Fox is the old Lupo. I test drove a 135i recently and it was parked up next to a 335i coupé, a car I had ruled out for being too big. The size difference was actually neglible - maybe a foot in length? At this rate of growth by 2020 a 7 series will need to be articulated to make it round roundabouts!

As they did with the lard arse new Z4 compared with the old one, BMW will probably moan that if you're 6'4" and 20 stone you won't fit in anything smaller. Why should 90% of the population suffer with a fat car just so large people can fit? Everyone's got their own criteria for a car and if you/luggage/family/dog don't fit, then buy a different car! Otherwise car companies just hologate all their cars down to variations on one model. So BMW: don't try and make every car you make big enough to fit a huge fat giant, because it ruins it for the rest of us.

rant over!

Rob's BMW new model line up:

1M: 350bhp lightweight M car.
Z4M Coupé: ditch the folding roof mechanism and the bum massagers and make another lightweight M Coupé.

All models should keep the lovely sonorous normally aspirated engines, and gain economy by losing weight.

WMP

154 posts

198 months

Monday 16th November 2009
quotequote all
Looks interesting, but EVO have been testing this stuff and it doesnt look like the performance improvements are massive.

Interesting that BMW have moved out of F1 while Mercedes have bought Brawn in addition to their Mclaren interests!

nav p

324 posts

186 months

Monday 16th November 2009
quotequote all
I bet this car already exists in the BMW M factory....

threespires

4,289 posts

210 months

Monday 16th November 2009
quotequote all
I've also heard that Audi are thinking about 358.5 bhp version of a car that might be announced at a motor show yet to be decided. If they do, then Mercedes will offer a 384.7 bhp version of a rival car that could be announced some time in the next 3 years at a motor show that will be in the first or second half of the year, a decision will be made soon.

louismchuge

1,628 posts

183 months

Monday 16th November 2009
quotequote all
slow news day? BMW might build a car? st the bed!

mat205125

17,790 posts

212 months

Monday 16th November 2009
quotequote all
Stevesh said:
I liked that si version that was suggested a year or so ago. Light, 2000bhp ish and cheap enough to buy in the real world!

Steve
Wow! That would have shifted wink

baz1985

3,598 posts

244 months

Monday 16th November 2009
quotequote all
They're having a laugh, it's a sign that they are planning an X1 M, and then an X3 M.

But seriously a 1 M with a M-diff, slick manual box and proper brakes, would get me interested.

R66STU

273 posts

175 months

Monday 16th November 2009
quotequote all
I think i get the idea of this car and who its aimed at..youngerish drivers that cant afford to insure/run/buy an M3.. its not a bad idea, and i actually think it would do well. For me i would say a nice sporty interior (but not totally stripped out, and back seats please. as i have friends & family) and 330bhp sounds good! thats scooby and evo area. i would imagine £25K-£30K for this ?? or surly one would just go for new a focus RS.. not in putrid green though lol.

gumsie

680 posts

208 months

Monday 16th November 2009
quotequote all
They won't call it an M1. They've not even made a car that comes close to that for years. There is no way a 1 series could fill that brief-should have called it the two series.

marcains

7 posts

180 months

Monday 16th November 2009
quotequote all
Why not just call it the 3000 Turbo, paint it bright green and give it some bright blue decals with TURBO in big writing. The one series seems like the rightful successor to the 2002 Turbo, or am I the only one who thinks that would be an awesome way to revive it.

adycav

7,615 posts

216 months

Monday 16th November 2009
quotequote all
RobM77 said:
good rant

Rob's BMW new model line up:

1M: 350bhp lightweight M car.
Z4M Coupé: ditch the folding roof mechanism and the bum massagers and make another lightweight M Coupé.

All models should keep the lovely sonorous normally aspirated engines, and gain economy by losing weight.
I agree with you completely.

TIGA84

5,204 posts

230 months

Monday 16th November 2009
quotequote all
They've been muttering about this for ages.

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/I... - lets hopr it really does got the tii route.

April 2008

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Monday 16th November 2009
quotequote all
I wonder how much weight they could realistically ditch while maintaining day-to-day usability.

edo

16,699 posts

264 months

Monday 16th November 2009
quotequote all
The big problem with the 1 is the weight - it is barley any lighter than the 3 series.