Monday 2nd July 2007

3 into 1 does go.

BMW shows us the new 1 Series Coupe, complete with twin turbos and 306 BHP.

---

The BMW 1 Series - perhaps not the first choice of the die hard PHer - even in 130i form the boxy hatch has struggled to steal sales from the traditional recipe hot hatch, but is that all about to change?

Last week PistonHeads were invited to see the new 1 Series Coupe, and despite what you may have thought from the early spy pictures, it has developed into a great looking car, especially with the M Aerodynamics Package.

But its looks are just the start of the story as BMW engineers have managed to squeeze in the fantastic 3.0 straight six, twin turbo engine from the 335i. This means 306hp in a car weighing only 1560kg. Rapid then? Well how about a top speed of 155mph and the 0-60 sprint taking only 5.3 seconds- exactly the same as an M3 CSL.

We’ll have to wait to get behind the wheel for a true driving impression - this was just a static reveal - but the spec sheet shows an electronically controlled differential that the engineers told me will offer the same effect as a differential lock- let’s wait and see when one arrives at PH Towers in a few weeks time.

The 135i Coupe is helped in the looks department by the Aerodynamics Package giving a different front and rear bumper, side skirts, a rear lip spoiler and larger 18” wheels.

I came away really wanting a 135i Coupe, and who wouldn’t with that sort of power? As I left BMW’s HQ I found one of the senior team involved with the car and asked ‘what about an M version with a bit more power, a proper diff and a further weight saving?’ The reply was that there was no need, this car was already fast enough. That may be true, but I’m sure Hartge or Alpina already have something in the pipeline?

• 
  
  135i Coupe Tech
• Length: 4360 mm
• Wheelbase: 2660 mm
• Weight: 1560 kg
• Cylinders: Straight six
• CC: 2979
• Power: 306hp@ 5800 rpm
• Torque: 295 lb-ft
• Front suspension: double- joint tiebar spring strut axle, aluminium
• Rear suspension: five-arm axle, lightweight steel
• Steering: Rack and pinion
• Brakes front: Six- piston fixed callipers with 338mmx 26mm vented discs
• Brakes rear: Two- piston fixed callipers with 324mm x 22mm vented dics
• Top speed: limited to 155 MPH
• 0-60- 5.3 seconds
• 50-70- 5.0 seconds (4^th gear)

 

[Trenchtown]

5.3 seconds for a M3 CSL somehow seems a little slow...

couldn't find a reference, but are you sure about that number?

[Ranger 6]

Sorry, am I wrong in thinking that coupes should be lightwieght and agile?

Whilst I think it's very nice is barely 100kg lighter than my 4x4....

Is this an indication I've got a lightweight 4x4 or is it that cars are just lardy there days?

[Garlick]

Hi Trackdemon, they are Evo magazine figures. Happy to be corrected though if anyone knows different

[runnersp]

That back end reminds me of a Hyundai... Probably not a good thing...

[bob1179]

It looks much better than those spy shots from a few weeks ago.

I can't wait to have a go in one, it's a shame there won't be a lightweight CSL or 'M1' as that would be a proper E30 sucessor.

At almost 1600kgs it is lardy, in fact it's heavier than my E28 M535i, but people want their air con, electric everything and airbags all over the place, these cars also have to meet all these new crash and pedestrian safety laws.

I'm going to give it the benefit of the doubt though.

[Windymiller]

Not exactly pretty is it? But with that badge it'll sell by the shedload like the breadvan

[pSyCoSiS]

Great engine and performance, but not sure about the rear-end looks.

Think BMW are becoming too diverse as of late, they already have 1 Series 3 and 5 door, 3 Series Saloon, Coupe, Touring, 5 Series variants, 6 Series, 7 Series, X3 and X5 etc.

That's more than enough in my opinion!

[anonymous-user]

What a pile of poo! Heavy, expensive and ugly. Bet they will sell loads to all the posing idiots with too much money!

[Mr Whippy]

BMW talk some real drivel...

Article said:

This means 306hp in a car weighing only 1560kg. Rapid then?

Not really *that* rapid, 195bhp/tonne isn't a huge amount for straight line rockets these days. It's podgy weight will hardly endow it with telepathic handling either. An E36 M3 has more power to weight and power, and is 100kg less. Scary how times have changed.
Even the 130i has 186bhp/tonne, so that power in the 135i is sapped with a good 110kg more weight. Fantastic engineering there

Article said:

Well how about a top speed of 155mph and the 0-60 sprint taking only 5.3 seconds- exactly the same as an M3 CSL

195bhp/tonne vs 260bhp/tonne, and the latter CSL has sticky tyres for more grunt too, and an SMG shift!

Where do they get their figures? I read a 520d E60 did 0-60 in 8.3s the other day. Are BMW making numbers up because there is no way 166bhp would punt 1500kg+ to 60mph in anywhere under 9s.


All hail the new ugly fat arse 1 series Coupe!

Dave

Edited by Mr Whippy on Monday 2nd July 11:56

[Marki]

I think it looks ok , probably be a good drive as well

[VladD]

From the side on shot, it looks like someone had backed into it.

[dberkmen]

Well done BMW, how can such a small 2 door car weigh so much??
Thet must have replaced all the aluminium bits with cast iron - 'a major step forward for road safety today'

ps it's 10kg lighter than an M3

Edited by dberkmen on Monday 2nd July 12:03

[pSyCoSiS]

Trenchtown said:

5.3 seconds for a M3 CSL somehow seems a little slow...

couldn't find a reference, but are you sure about that number?

According to the website below, M3 CSL does it in 4.9 seconds.

I thought that even the standard E46 M3 did it in 5.3 seconds or less??

http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/bmw_m3csl.asp

[rgracin]

The side view looks like a cut and shut.

[LoftyD]

I also can't see how they managed to make it weigh that much! I wonder if we'll see a revised weight figure?

[kambites]

How big is it that they managed to get it to weigh over a tonne and a half? That's an obscene weight for what's meant to be a "small" car.

[XM5ER]

Weight: 1560 kg

FFS.

glad to see I wasn't the only one who noted its morbid obesity.

Edited by XM5ER on Monday 2nd July 12:19

[Top Trump]

I just don't get the point of this car.

If you want a Golf/A3 size hatchback you buy a 1 series.
If you want the a regular (smallish) size saloon you buy a 3 series.

Why would you want BMWs equivalent of the Vauxhall Belmont or the very ugly Focus saloon?

Nicht gut.

[astrsxi77]

I actually rather like this. To me, this is the size of car the 3-series (and any other car in that class) should be. However 1560kg is inexcusable.

Edited by astrsxi77 on Monday 2nd July 12:24

[Garlick]

XM5ER said:

Weight: 1560 kg

FFS.

glad to see I wasn't the only one who noted its morbid obesity.

Edited by XM5ER on Monday 2nd July 12:19

Checking with BMW, this figure allows for 75kg of driver and luggage, so a true figure of 1485 kg. Phew, thats better then