400hp BMW M140e hybrid due next year
Rumours suggest that 1 Series will be given an electric boost in lieu of a proper M car
BMW is said to be planning a new take on its performance 1 Series variant next year, with a 400hp hybrid model waiting in the wings. The M140e will offer the broadest mix of performance and efficiency in the 1 Series line-up by combining BMW’s M-fettled turbocharged 2.0-litre with a battery-fed electric motor, providing 70 miles of zero-emission range – and arguably creating the first plug-in hybrid of genuine hot hatch calibre.
That’s according to a report by Automobile Magazine, which said the four-cylinder petrol – presumably the 2.0 from the upcoming M135i xDrive – will use water injection technology, with the electric hardware contributing 80hp to its punch thanks to a 35kWh battery pack. Total output is pegged at 400hp and 369lb ft of torque, which would make the five-door M140e about as potent as the Mercedes-AMG A45.
Like AMG, the M140e will use all-wheel drive, although it’s likely the electric motor will drive through the gearbox rather than provide direct twist to the back axle. There’s also a good chance that BMW will equip the model with something to rival the AMG’s drift mode and offer the flexibility (aka oversteer) delivered in the M5 and upcoming M3/M4. With the instantaneous torque provided by that electric motor, the prospect is certainly an exciting one.
Will that be enough to appease fans of the departed six-cylinder, rear-driven M140i? Probably not, because many of us loved that car (and could forgive its foibles) thanks to its comparably old school operation. But in a world where 0-62mph times and electric ranges are dominating new car specs sheets, an M140e would seem to fit the bill rather nicely. Anyway, for those who prefect things a little simpler, the 306hp pure petrol-powered M135i xDrive is not far from rivalling the AMG A35. Alternatively, £25k will get you a nearly new six-pot…
This new one will be quicker, more economical etc but nowhere near as fun or brutal as this.
If it's true that the autonomous pods are coming for us, the capitulation, as it were, won't happen before we have some truly interesting and capable cars. Such is the sort of golden age that we're in, at the moment.
This particular BMW hatch / crossover may not be to everyone's taste, but nor should it be. From a product and available performance point of view, however, it's probably very good.
Horses for courses.
This new one will be quicker, more economical etc but nowhere near as fun or brutal as this.
I realise that the ICE is on its way out, ultimately, but these hybrid solutions are just bridging the gap while bringing no real world benefits.
And they are seriously trying to ape the A35 and A45 here. Let this die, please
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