BMW 1 Series M Coupe video
BMW's new baby M car looks the business as it turns its wheels in anger at Spain's Ascari Race ResortWe knew an M-tuned BMW 1 Series was in the works, and now the Bavarian marque has provided the first video footage of the car in action at Spain's Ascari Race Resort (see the video footage at the bottom of the page).
As previously reported, the stove-hot two-door won't wear M1 badges, as these will remain the preserve of the mid-engined 1970s supercar. Instead, it will be known as the 1 Series M Coupe.
Its job description will be to take on rival coupes such as the Audi TT RS and Porsche Cayman S, and it's believed the inspiration for the car came from the original E30 M3, which is still highly regarded for its agility and driver involvement.
No powertrain details have as yet been made public, but it's likely the 1 Series M Coupe will derive propulsion from a high-output version of BMW's 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder engine.
As we've previously suggested, one possible scenario is that it could take advantage of the 250kW/500Nm iteration of the 3.0-litre six seen in the BMW Z4 sDrive35is.
Although the prototype featured in the video is festooned in psychedelic camouflage, it's easy to discern the tasty flared guards and quad exhaust outlets.
Predictably, M Division boss Dr Kay Segler waxes lyrical about the car in the video, but there's likely to be at least an element of truth in his words. Its short, squat dimensions seem tailor-made for a track weapon, and the M-Haus tweaks should yield some tangible dynamic gains over the bogger 135i.
Dr Segler suggests there are many people "dreaming to have an M car" and this is why "it's one of my most urgent goals to offer a small, affordable M model in the tradition of the very first BMW M3. We would like to reach a wider group, and at an earlier time in their lives."
The 1 Series M Coupe may make an appearance at the upcoming Paris motor show in October, but meanwhile potential customers can sign up at M-Power.com and get in the queue to actually drive the thing.
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