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BMW 1-Series M-Car Back Off The Table?

 
5 2,247 views Mar 3, 2010
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2010 BMW 1-Series

HI-RES GALLERY: 2010 BMW 1-Series

If you were waiting for an M-Division 1-Series, it looks like you may be out of luck--again. The on-again, off-again project won't see daylight according to a new report out of Geneva. There's good news, however--a 135is, a la the new 2011 335is, could be in the works.

The 1-Series M car would have been plagued by issues of pricing and performance anyway--add too much juice and the car starts stepping on the M3's toes. Add too little, and it's not really an M car. So BMW looks to be seeking the middle ground with its 135is-badged approach.

In an interview with Inside Line, an unnamed BMW source said that the 1-Series M car is not happening, but instead that a twin-turbo N54-powered 135is would fill the need for a more potent, yet still not M3-killing, 1-Series.

The N54 as tuned for the 2011 335is and Z4 sDrive35is generates around 330 horsepower and just as much torque, with an overboost function that cranks up the twist-factor to 370 pound-feet for brief periods. That's sure to add some serious fun to the 135i's already dashing 300-horsepower figure, especially if the 135is partakes of the other upgrades found in the 335is--including M Sport aerodynamics, better cooling systems, and an M Sport suspension package.

No word yet on when the 135is might be coming, but the New York Auto Show at the end of this month seems like a good place to reveal a high-performance coupe, so keep your eyes peeled--we'll have the official details as soon as they're available. Provided it comes to reality, of course.

[Inside Line]





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Comments (5)

  1. By bepsf Posted: 3/3/2010 1:27pm PST

    The 135i is already too expensive, overweight and overpowered - no need for BMW to add more superlatives...
    ...and they weren't about to call it an "M1"
     
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  2. By james Posted: 3/3/2010 1:34pm PST

    the one series needs to go. in my opinion, it totally ruins the brand.
     
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  3. By JJ Posted: 3/3/2010 2:40pm PST

    Honestly, all this overweight turbo-charged nonsense is getting me down.
    What BMW should do is drop the standard 270hp N52 naturally aspirated 3.0L six into a lightened 1er coupe with some of the pointless rubbish thrown out, light weight buckets etc. Then add aggressive chassis settings and you'd have an absolute peach of a car that would be plenty quick enough without scaring the M3 in terms of headline performance figures. At the same time, done right it could be a much better driver's car than the M3, but it seems we've got to the point where hardly anyone cares about that kind of thing anymore.
     
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  4. By mpower Posted: 3/3/2010 7:30pm PST

    james the 1 er coupe is a great car. it is the rebirth of what saved the brand, its the modern day 02 e21 e30. They should just call it the 1ti. And Bmw have a history of turbos 2002 TURBO. The only reason they never coutinued on this path with road cars was due to lag. But they raced turbo engines in the 70's and early 80's with great success f1 title being the highlight
     
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  5. By NoNameDenton Posted: 3/3/2010 8:23pm PST

    mpower, how is the 1 series great, it is a shortened 3 series whose prices overlaps with the 3 series.
     
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