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21/07/2010 | By: Colum Wood

When BMW recently released a video of its new 1 Series M Coupe, M Boss Dr. Kay Segler commented that we’d have to wait for it. Now it appears the waiting will end at the Detroit Auto Show in January. News of the official unveiling comes via BMW insider SCOTT26 posting on 1Addicts. Complete details will be given in December of this year prior to the car’s debut at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), a European premiere in Geneva in March, followed by sales.

As always, the Europeans will get their hands on the 1 Series M Coupe first, with deliveries taking place in the Spring of 2011, while North American deliveries will take place in the summer.

[Source: 1Addicts]

Check out BMW’s teaser video after the jump:

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08/03/2010 | By: Colum Wood

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While some sources say a BMW 1 Series M is headed for production, the team at Inside Line continues to insist that no such car is in the cards – sort of. You see, rather than a super high performance M version, Inside Line says a to look for a 135is.

The 135is would get a more powerful version of the twin-turbo N54 straight-six engine with a tighter suspension setup and likely some mild design tweaks. In the 335is, the same engine makes 320-hp and 332 ft-lbs of torque with an overboost function that will deliver short bursts of 370 ft-lbs of torque. We can imagine a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission will be optional, as will plenty of M Sport goodies.

[Source: InsideLine]

06/01/2010 | By: Colum Wood

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As of late there has been a great deal of discussion about the possibility of BMW adding an M-badged version of the 1 Series to its lineup and now we have confirmed reports that the model has been given the green light. The 1-Series M will get a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline six engine, but with 350-hp.

This engine will differ significantly from the one currently found in the 135i. Instead, the 1-Series M-car will use a version of the new turbo 3.0-liter, which recently debuted in the 535i GT, which offers even more linear power delivery. Also scheduled is a more efficient intercooler setup. Power will be put to the ground via a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox and torque is expected to be rated at around 310 ft-lbs.

The car will slot in directly below the M3 in the German automaker’s lineup and is expected to cost around $45,000. In an interview with the U.K.’s AutoCar, BMW M division boss Kay Segler said that, “With the modular production processes in place at BMW, it is possible to create performance cars that customers can not only dream about owning but also realistically afford.”

As for the rest of the car, weight is expected to be not much more than 3,300 lbs, which should help the smallest M-car to deliver a 0-60 mph time of 5.5 seconds and be an absolute hoot in the twisties – and on the track!

Other highlights include 18-inch wheels, a revised suspension setup and a subtle M aero kit.

Along with being more powerful, the new engine is also more fuel efficient and thanks to brake energy regeneration and the possibility of a start-stop system, the more powerful model will use roughly the same amount of fuel as the current 135i.

BMW has yet to release official details on the car, but it is expected to go on sale in 2011.

[Source: AutoCar]

19/11/2009 | By: Colum Wood

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The top dog at BMW’s M division is pushing hard with the German automaker’s corporate brass to get the go-ahead to build an M car based on the 1 Series. In an interview with U.K. car site, PistonHeads, Dr. Kay Segler said he is looking to build an M-car, based on the next generation 1 Series.

There’s no telling what this M-car might be, especially as the current 135i is already such an impressive performer with a serious amount of horsepower. That being said, it would only seem logical that an actual M-car based on the 1 Series would be a raw driving experience with a reduced weight. Dr. Segler did say that a more affordable model underneath the M3 was a top priority. One has to think an easy way to reduce weight would be with a turbocharged 4-cylinder.

With the next 1 Series platform reportedly set to spawn a long list of vehicles, from roadsters, to crossovers, there’s also a strong possibility of an M version of the (still hypothetical) Z2.

The only problem would come in naming the car, with the M1 moniker no doubt either reserved for a wild exotic (like the original) or retired to the BMW hall of fame.

[Source: PistonHeads]