New M Baby
Souped-up One gets 350hp treatment but it only comes with a manual gearbox.
Air vents have purpose, too.
- You aren't teasing me again with some computer-generated images...
No, this is real. After months of teaser shots and videos on the internet, this is the real stuff from BMW. The 1-series M will debut at next month's Detroit motor show before going on sale in May.
It is estimated to cost B5.5m in Thailand, if you want to own one. That's nearly half of what the bigger M3 asks for.
- Great. But I don't like dipping the clutch...
Ah, that attitude is typical of the average Thai buyer. But BMW wants to attract the 1M (shortened for convenience) to a younger set of driving enthusiasts who find the M3's price a bit far-fetched.
That's why the 1M only comes with a six-speed manual with short-throw action, according to BMW. The M3 comes with either that kind of manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
- So what's the problem?
We aren't so sure, but we'll get your point. If BMW wants to make its M business more profitable and accessible to a wider audience, it should offer a two-pedal version of the 1M.
And as many of you may remember from these pages a few weeks ago, the Audi RS3 _ albeit based on the A3 five-door hatchback, and 1M derived from 1-series Coup? _ comes with a 340hp 2.5-litre turbocharged inline-five, seven-speed dual-clutch auto while that crucial 0-100kph acceleration is timed at 4.6sec.
- The 1M better be as quick, or quicker...
Sorry mate. The 1M gets a modified version of the 3.0-litre inline-six, also turbo'd, from the Z4 35is producing 350hp and 450Nm (with another 50Nm overboost) of torque.
Despite the power advantage, the 1M is slower than the RS3 by 0.3sec at 4.9sec. As well, the 1M is 0.1sec more lethargic than its M3 brother, which employs a high-revving 420hp 4.0-litre V8.
It's also noteworthy that the 1M tips the scales at 1,495kg, more than a 100 kilos less than the 1,605kg M3.
- Good gracious. Will it be a charm to drive?
We haven't driven it yet, so we can't give a definite answer. But other technical credentials disclosed should make the 1M a decent car to steer.
Interior is simple but adorned with suede leather and red stitching.
The tracks of the 1M have been widened over the stock One by 71mm up front and 46mm at the rear to improve handling. Both measure an identical 1,541mm in the 1M. The body has also been lowered by 20mm for more grip.
Two key elements carried over from the M3 include the 360mm/350mm front/rear ventilated disc brakes and variable M differential. Along with the widened tracks, you can see this diff clearly in the main picture on this page.
- I'm still not bought...
And if you look inside, the design is minimalist, just as purists would like the 1M to be, along with that classic gearbox. There's a dose of suede and red stitching inside to add up to the racy concept.
There are also M3-like side-view mirrors on the outside, xenon head lights and LED rear lights. Moreover, the front and rear bumpers have been designed in the true machismo sense, although BMW emphasised that the air vents up front have true purpose in function.
Make it like this: the 1M is an M3, priced at a big discount, promising nearly identical performance and driving fun. You aren't bought yet, eh?
That’s right, just stick onMPower to that familiar six-pot.
JUST A PHOTO OP
BMW is making some connotations with the 1-series M and E30 M3 because both are similarly sized (don't forget that E30 is 3-series three generations back) and offer the same driving concept via a manual shifter.
But their engine philosophies are different. The 1-series M employs a turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder, while the E30 M3 adopted a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-pot with power ranging from 195hp up to 238hp in Evo 3 form.
BMW once showed the "tii" concept car based on the 1-series to recall the old days of the 2002tii, which used a 2.0-litre turbo'd four-cylinder. Hence, the M badge was opted in favour of tii.
BMW also couldn't simply called its M-fettled One an M1 because such a badge will take it back to the legendary mid-engine supercar of the late '70s, a model that has never been replaced. That said, the 1-series M has no significant history.
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
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