Friday 30th November 2012

AC Schnitzer creates even hotter M135i

Ultimate hot hatch given power hike to 360hp for a 60mph time well below five seconds

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We didn't think the fabulous BMW M135i need much in the way of extra power, but respected BMW tuner AC Schnitzer has decided to give it an extra 40hp anyway as part of a tuning package for the car.

The motorsport-rooted Germans have pushed the three-litre six-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine to 360hp using means we're not sure of yet. We'll find out more when the tuning package is revealed at Germany's tuner show at Essen at the beginning of next month.

Full package includes lowered suspension

Given the current car sprints to 62mph in just 5.1 seconds, that'll mean a new time into the fours, although Schnitzer hasn't said what exactly that is.

The firm reckons that its power hike hasn't affected the amazingly low 188g/km CO2 figure (equating to 35mpg).

The full tuning kit includes sports suspension package that lowers the car by 25mm. There's also a range of visual tweaks that differentiate the car without it looking too lairy, including new wheels, extended chin spoiler and new lower grille.

Prices haven't been annouced, but if you're keen, luckily your start point for the standard car is pretty good at £29,995. The Schnitzer cosmetic /upgrades are also available for the standard 1-series.

 

 

 

[will261058]

The looks have been improved marginally but it still isnt a looker!

[W00DY]

Grim.

[wtdoom]

I still can't believe they look like that

[80085]

I reckon that looks good, not sure about the Ferarri grill but I like!

[LaurasOtherHalf]

It doesn't look great, but it's certainly not bad by AC scnitzer's usual standards.

[Robb F]

Why did they buy the wheels from halfords?

[80085]

Headlights are terrible right enough and the front splitter should be thin and carbon.

[BlueEyedBoy]

Can someone photoshop it in black with some CSL rims on it? It might just work then....

[playalistic]

Schnitzer cosmetics are such a huge fail.

[Luca Brasi]

I wonder what drugs they're on back at Schnitzer Nice performance upgrade though!

[Mermaid]

BlueEyedBoy said:

Can someone photoshop it in black with some CSL rims on it? It might just work then....

That should improve it.. but the I series has always been ugly, no matter how much make-up. plastic surgery.

[Amirhussain]

Looks ok, I think I prefer this colour over the estoril(?) blue one

[After_Shock]

The looks arent clever but the drivetrain alone for the money would tempt me.

Think it was Autocar recently did a test on it, 2 people up with a fair bit of fuel in and it did 0-60 in 4.6secs as an auto.

I dont normally get excited over 0-60times but something below 5secs as a useable hatch doing over 30mpg average is pretty impressive regardless which way you look at it.

Just order a black one to hide as much of the awfull looks as possible!!

[K5tealth]

This car just gets better and better - an extra 40bhp!

Screw the looks and keep the bodykit - just give me the extra ponies

[Regiment]

Hideous looking thing, it's not even a hideous car with character, it's just hideous.

[J4CKO]

I could get used to the looks for that kind of power, I dont mind it that much, the front looks like the little flying robots off "Batteries not Included" when they are pissed off.

Lets be grateful that for, what is in the scheme of things not the most expensive car you can buy, you can get soemthing small, discrete, RWD with bags of power

I would just get a remap off DMS or whatever rather than Ac Schnitzer, plainer the better for me, some 116i badges to complete the charade.

[tomble]

^^^ This forum software needs a like button

[lindrup119]

I like how the wheels are different on both sides of the car

[P2BS]

"The firm reckons that its power hike hasn't affected the amazingly low 188g/km CO2 figure (equating to 35mpg)."

I reckon the firm hasn't checked the new CO2 figure, as this is only done using complicated equipment multiplied by the smoke & mirrors formula of the giant car manufacturers. If specifying 20in wheels on your factory-ordered Insignia is enough for them to re-evaluate the CO2, how can Schnitzer hand-on-heart say the CO2's are the same? I've got a BS detector & it's off the scale.

Not that I'm too bothered - if 188g CO2 means less road tax I'm all up for it!

[Agoogy]

Can we have a single horizontal bar in the side grilles?...yep
oh and silver horizontal AND vertical bars in the centre?...ok
and um...standard plain black vertical for the mian grille...right

hurts.my.eyes.