ABDC 2017: BMW M140i Review

4th

Forget what you think you know about hot hatches because the BMW M140i Performance Edition rewrites the rule book.

The smallest car in the BMW M line-up eschews all the hot hatch norms – this one packs a straight- six-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine under its bonnet and sends drive to the rear wheels.

It’s the classic BMW drive configuration, yet set within the small frame of the 1 Series, this M car was a revelation to our judges.

The M140i’s torquey straight-six turbocharged petrol engine generates 250kW and 500Nm, and is a perfect pairing with the diminutive five-door body style. Its taut chassis features Adaptive M suspension which even in sports mode isn’t overly stiff. The addition of variable sport steering delivers a small car with strong performance credentials which is a more than worthy entrant in our 2017 Australia’s Best Driver’s Car shortlist.

We’ve already taken the standard M140i around the track at our recent M Party, where it held its own against larger high performance siblings. Now, in its Performance Edition guise, the little M-car ups the ante. Upgrades including a mechanical limited-slip differential on manual models, a stonking M Performance exhaust system and larger 19-inch alloy wheels.

The pack’s cosmetic updates also add to the M140i’s appeal with Alcantara used for the upholstery, interior trim pieces and the steering wheel.

The M140i offers a commanding view from the driver’s seat and has an excellent pedal position – in fact the cockpit packaging is close to ideal for a driver’s car. Judge Luke Youlden declared the BMW was “all the car you’ll ever need”, saying he would own one. The only features we really felt were missing were a digital speedo repeater and head up display.

Judges were effusive in their praise of the BMW M140i Performance Edition, with many lauding its impressive engine performance and ability to punch out of corners.

We liked the M140i’s predictable handling, it was well-balanced and easy to place in corners. Judge Nadine Armstrong reflected: “you always feel at one with this car.”

Only 15 of the 60 limited edition Performance Edition models imported by BMW Australia will be available with a six-speed manual transmission and we were fortunate to one at ABDC.

The manual gear change was a highlight of the M140i’s drive experience and while a couple of judges found the shift itself to be longer than they would have liked, the gearing and predictive nature of the manual shift elicited some very favourable remarks.

Ken Gratton said the M140i instilled confidence in the driver while Marton Pettendy proclaimed it as “a real sweetie.” Bruce Newton said he loved the pliable nature of the chassis and declared the BMW “almost great”

Most judges commented on the engaging nature of the M140i’s rear-drive balance.

Pleasingly, the mechanical limited sip differential paired with low-key electronic assistance to let the M140i to wag its tail a little more than is common.

Indeed, the M140i bucks the trend for car companies to over compensate with electronic stability controls.

Despite its small stature, a strong power-to-weight ratio enabled the BMW M140i to acquit itself well on the drag strip although our 0- 100km/h sprint time was 5.781sec – over a second slower than BMW’s claimed 4.6. It was the fastest hatchback on our quarter mile strip – beating the Ford Focus RS and Volkswagen Golf GTI - to record a time of 13.14s and a top speed of 175km/h.

At Baskerville Raceway, the story was not quite so favourable, with racing drivers, Luke Youlden and Greg Crick both frustrated with the M140i’s 1:02.99 lap time. Lukeattributed the time to a surprising level of entry-mid corner understeer which was not evidenced on road.

Poor tyre grip on track was also signalled as a failing, and both drivers were disappointed the M140i didn’t live up to its promise.

Buyers of the BMW M140i who intend to use their car as a track weapon should not lose cheer however, as each of the 60 made-for-Australia M140i Performance Edition models comes standard with an extra set of 18-inch wheels shod with Michelin Pilot Super Sport rubber. In hindsight, perhaps that’s the wheel set we should have fitted.

>> 1st - HSV GTSR W1
>> 2nd - Porsche Cayman S
>> 3rd - Ford Focus RS
>> 4th - BMW M140i
>> 5th - BMW M3
>> 6th - Audi S5 Coupe
>> 7th - Mercedes-AMG C 43
>> Track test - The fastest ever
>> A sideways glance at ABDC
>> 8th - Volkswagen Golf GTI 40 Years
>> Stats never lie – ABDC by the numbers
>> Not ranked - Alfa Romeo Guilia QV
>> All the ABDC FAQs
>> 10th - Abarth 124 Spider
>> Quarter-mile bragging rights
>> Meet the judges
>> 11th - Nissan GT-R

>> In search of Australia's Best Driver's Car 2017

There’s very little to fault in the BMW M140i Performance Edition which surprised, delighted and thrilled the 2017 Australia’s Best Driver’s Car judges.

This is an exhilarating car that punches well above its weight to deliver a thoroughly engaging driving experience.

2017 BMW M140i Performance Edition pricing and specifications:
Price: $71,900 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 250kW/500Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 7.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 179g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: N/A

2017 BMW M140i Performance Edition performance figures (as tested):
0-100km/h: 5.781sec
0-400m: 13.140sec @ 175.603km/h
Lap time: 1:02.099sec