Autoblog

BMW says yes to 1 Series M successor, no to M6 Gran Coupe with xDrive

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Performance, BMW, Luxury

If you're anything like us, the first half of that headline made you smile. The BMW 1 Series M Coupe was, without a doubt, one of our favorite cars from the past few years, and according to a BMW Blog interview, Dr. Friedrich Nitschke, head of the company's M division, has confirmed that a successor is in the works.

"We haven't made a decision yet, but the 1M coupe was so successful, that in my opinion, I am absolutely sure we will build a successor," Nitschke told BMW Blog. Currently, BMW only offers the M135i version of the new 1 Series hatch in Europe, which Nitschke says is "not a pure M car."

Moving elsewhere in the M range, BMW Blog asked about the M6 Gran Coupe that recently debuted at this year's Detroit Auto Show. The obvious competitors for this car will be higher-power versions of the Porsche Panamera and Audi RS7, but while both of those offer all-wheel drive, the M6 only sends power to its rear wheels.

"We will not bring an all-wheel drive, only a rear-wheel drive," Nitschke said in the interview. The main reason is that adding AWD means additional weight has to be tacked on, and even so, the BMW executives said that the car was developed to have specific handling and steering characteristics common to a rear-wheel-drive car. "I think it's perfect the way it is," Nitschke stated.

BMW says yes to 1 Series M successor, no to M6 Gran Coupe with xDrive originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW M5 quicker than 1 M Coupe quicker than M3

Zach Bowman — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Europe, BMW, Luxury

Autobild recently set out to settle the question of which M vehicle is the fastest in the BMW stable at the moment. Not surprisingly, the German enthusiast publication found the BMW M3 CRT to be the quickest around the Sachsenring, setting the magazine's fastest time around the track with a 1:38.37 minute lap time. That's impressive, but not nearly as astounding as the time drummed up by the new BMW M5. The portly sedan did the same deed in 1:38.90, or just three hundredths of a second slower than the special-edition M3.

And what of the sibling rivalry between the BMW 1 Series M Coupe and the standard M3? As it turns out, the magazine's shoes have given the nod to the smaller of the two coupes. The 1 Series M Coupe barely eked out a win over the M3, though the M3 Convertible took nearly two extra seconds to make it around the course than its hardtop twin.

BMW M5 quicker than 1 M Coupe quicker than M3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This BMW 1M makes 550 hp thanks to American muscle [w/video]

Zach Bowman — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Europe, BMW, Specialty, Racing

We're firm believers in the fact that there are few things on this green Earth that can't be improved with the addition of a General Motors small block. Need proof? Take a peek over Jon Sibal's site for a look at a BMW 1 Series M Coupe powered by a good old-fashioned American lump.

The GC10-V8 is actually a silhouette race car, which means the vehicle makes use of a complete tube chassis which is then covered in whatever sheet metal (or carbon fiber) you like. This machine was built by Global Concept Automobile, and began with a 1 Series M Coupe shell.

The team then applied some seriously-aggressive composite fender arches to cover the vehicle's meaty race rubber. Sibal says the eight-pot at work in the GC10-V8 is good for a blistering 550 horsepower, and that a three-way Ohlins adjustable suspension takes care of keeping the coupe planted on the tarmac.

The racer has already gotten its feet wet in a couple of endurance races around France this year. Awesome. Head over to Jon Sibal's site for more information and photos, and be sure to click past the jump for a look at the GC10-V8 in the pits.

Continue reading This BMW 1M makes 550 hp thanks to American muscle [w/video]

This BMW 1M makes 550 hp thanks to American muscle [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch Jeremy Clarkson pit 1908 V12 Brutus against BMW 1 Series M Coupe

Zach Bowman — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, BMW, Racing

The Brutus is a relic from another time. A time when men approached automobile racing with reckless abandon by cramming the largest, most powerful engine available onto a chassis supported by the world's skinniest tires. Suspension, brakes and cumbersome safety equipment were all scrapped for bullet-shaped bodywork and testicles the size of small planetary bodies. The Brutus boasts a 46-liter BMW V12 engine pulled from a post-World War II fighter plane and a chassis from a 1908 American LaFrance. The engine alone weighs 1,124 pounds and puts out a potent 500 horsepower. Now Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson has decided that the creation needs to tango with the latest BMW hot rod; the 1 Series M Coupe in his new DVD, Powered Up.

This is not your typical drag race. The Brutus is a chain-driven, fire-breathing hulk that's happier scaring school children than darting down the drag strip, while the 1 Series M Coupe is as civilized as a sports car gets. How does the competition shake out? Hit the jump to check it for yourself.

Continue reading Watch Jeremy Clarkson pit 1908 V12 Brutus against BMW 1 Series M Coupe

Watch Jeremy Clarkson pit 1908 V12 Brutus against BMW 1 Series M Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #238

Dan Roth — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:22:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts, Etc.

Jaguar XFR Brake, Hyundai supercar, Lamborghini manuals, Red-light cameras

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Episode #238 of the Autoblog Podcast is here done, and this week Chris, Dan and Executive Editor Chris Paukert are joined by Senior Editor Damon Lavrinc. We start with the idea of Jaguar making a sport wagon XF-R and then move on to discuss Lamborghini giving up on traditional manual transmissions, contemplate a Hyundai supercar and finally chew on a study about the public feeling positive about red-light cameras. Your questions and comments finish us up, and live podcasts will be back soon at our UStream channel. We've embedded our Q&A module after the jump for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #238:

In the Autoblog Garage
2011 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS
2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe
2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302
2011 Toyota RAV4 Sport

Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Chris Paukert, Damon Lavrinc
Runtime: 01:22:20

Get the podcast
[UStream] Listen live on Mondays at 10PM Eastern at UStream
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[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

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Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
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Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #238

Autoblog Podcast #238 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi RS3 goes head-to-head against BMW 1 M Coupe in drag race

Noah Joseph — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Hatchback, Audi, BMW

BMW 1 M Coupe vs Audi RS3 - Click above to watch the video after the jump

There's no end to the vehicles to which you could compare the BMW 1 M Coupe. You could pit it against its big brother the M3, or the original that is its spiritual ancestor. Top Gear put it in unusual context with the Volkswagen GTI. Autocar against the Porsche Cayman R. The list goes on and on, but perhaps its most natural modern rival is the Audi RS3.

Sure the RS3 has all-wheel drive and a dual-clutch gearbox, not to mention two more doors, but their stats are otherwise pretty much spot-on. That's why AutoExpress chose these two for the most basic type of race you could imagine: a straight-line drag down the quarter-mile. Follow the jump to see who won.

Continue reading Audi RS3 goes head-to-head against BMW 1 M Coupe in drag race

Audi RS3 goes head-to-head against BMW 1 M Coupe in drag race originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW 1M Coupe drifts atop tallest helipad in the world

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 19:31:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, BMW

2012 BMW 1 M Coupe drifting on a helipad - Click above to watch the video after the break

Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound? Well, maybe not quite, but the 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe is definitely fast and powerful. And now it's been spotted atop one particularly tall building.

The building in question, the U.S. Bank Tower in Los Angeles, stands 1,018 feet tall, making it the tallest building in California and the tenth tallest in the United States. For the purposes of the BMW marketing machine, the fact that it is the tallest building in the world topped with a helipad is its most important attribute.

As you'll see in the video after the break, BMW decided it would be appropriate to film (or at least use darn near perfect computer generated imagery to make it look like it filmed) its 1M Coupe drifting in a fine arc atop the circular helipad. We don't know why, but we don't really care. See why in the video after the break.

Continue reading BMW 1M Coupe drifts atop tallest helipad in the world

BMW 1M Coupe drifts atop tallest helipad in the world originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobile pits BMW 1M against M3, chastises the automatic transmission

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 19:25:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Videos, BMW, Humor

Automobile wrings out the BMW 1 Series M - Click above to watch video after the jump

Jason Cammisa is a talented scribe over at the magazine of automobiles. He's also a passionate fellow, and has chosen to release some of that passion on the topic of an automatic-equipped BMW M3. Why the hostility? There are certainly a number of reasons one could draw upon, but in this instance, it's because Cammisa has the BMW 1 Series M Coupe at his disposal.

Jason and his team decided to take the 1M out for a bit o' the ol' sideways shenanigans, and nearly everything about the resulting video is excellent. We can understand why some folks would opt for a non-stick-shift M3, though we wouldn't do the same ourselves. And if we agreed with automatic M3 shoppers, we'd both be in the wrong.

We're very happy that BMW won't build an 1M with an autobox, and so is Mr. Cammisa. See the full test for yourself, after the jump.

Continue reading Automobile pits BMW 1M against M3, chastises the automatic transmission

Automobile pits BMW 1M against M3, chastises the automatic transmission originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sportauto runs 8:15 Nurburging lap in BMW 1 M Coupe

Michael Harley — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 16:07:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, BMW

2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe - Click above for high-res image gallery

The new BMW 1 Series M Coupe has finally taken a timed spin around the Nürburgring, and the results aren't bad. According to Sportauto, the rear-wheel-drive, 335-horsepower compact two-door ran an 8:15, putting it slightly ahead of the Audi TT RS and the Audi RS 3 Sportback. (Both Audis share the same 340-hp 2.5-liter turbo five-cylinder and all-wheel drive.) More impressively, the newest addition to the M Family beat a 320-horsepower rear-wheel drive Porsche Cayman S by two seconds and left the 300-horsepower BMW 335i coupe eating its dust a full eleven seconds later.

According to the publication, the 1 Series M Coupe could have done better. It wasn't wearing sticky racing compound tires and the suspension was a bit too firm - a compliant suspension improves traction on bumpy circuits. In other tests of the new M Coupe, Sportauto clocked a 0-100 kph (62 mph) time of 4.7 seconds and a sprint to 200 kph (124 mph) in just 17.2 seconds. Okay Audi and Porsche... your turn.

Sportauto runs 8:15 Nurburging lap in BMW 1 M Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 Jun 2011 16:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW files trademark for M2

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 31 May 2011 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: BMW, Rumormill

2011 BMW 1 Series M - Click above for high-res image gallery

We already told you that BMW has decided to limit production of the 1 Series M, making it a one-year proposition. Now, we may know a bit more about this decision. The German automaker has reportedly filed trademarks on the terms "M2" and "BMW M2." Where is the 2 Series upon which these terms could apply? Rumor has it that the next-generation BMW 1 Series will grow up and become the 2 Series.

Of course, a BMW 2 Series is not a foregone conclusion, but it's always a wise idea to stay a step ahead. At the very least, BMW is making sure that the M2 name will be ready should it choose to go the 2 Series route.

BMW files trademark for M2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 May 2011 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW 1 M Coupe gets strapped to the dyno

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 27 May 2011 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, BMW

Inside Line straps the BMW 1 Series M to a dyno - Click above to watch video after the jump

It's no secret that manufacturers sometimes underrate horsepower and torque figures for certain high performance models. This practice has been going on since the muscle car wars, and we don't see it stopping anytime soon. Inside Line wanted to find out what the 2011 BMW 1 Series M is putting down for power, so rather than rely on the manufacturer's information, the IL crew took a trip to the local dyno.

In case you'd forgotten, the 1 Series M is rated at 335 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque under normal operation, but an "overboost" function increases turbo pressure allowing the engine to make 369 pound-feet of torque for brief periods.

What happened when Inside Line hooked the 1M up to a rolling road? Let's just say BMW is keeping the underrated power game alive. Click past the jump to watch the clip and see what we mean.

Continue reading BMW 1 M Coupe gets strapped to the dyno

BMW 1 M Coupe gets strapped to the dyno originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 May 2011 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW 1 Series M to be one year and done?

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 24 May 2011 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, BMW

2011 BMW 1 Series M - Click above for high-res image gallery

Did you pick up your 2011 BMW 1 Series M? If not, you may be paying a lot more for one down the road. The $46,135 German sports coupe will be produced through the end of this year... and then it's done. According to TheDetroitBureau.com, BMW admits that its latest ~~sex toy~~ pumped-up two-door will have a very limited run of one model year.

That's not to say we won't see another version on the future. However, it could be several years before that happens, which should make the current (and only) crop of BMW 1 Series M cars quite collectible.

After reading TDB's report, we pressed BMW for some more insight into the matter, and received confirmation that the current 1 Series M is only sticking around for the 2011 model year. The next generation 1 Series is at least two-and-a-half to three years away, which is too much time to speculate on a future 1 Series M. Curious as to how many 2011 1 Series M coupes will be produced? So are we, and BMW can only share that "less than 1,000 units" will be produced in 2011.

Said another way... get in line. Now.

BMW 1 Series M to be one year and done? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 May 2011 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe

Michael Harley — Fri, 13 May 2011 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, BMW, First Drives

The E30 M3 Reincarnated, But Where Does That Leave The M3?

2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe - Click above for high-res image gallery

Enthusiasts, BMW has your car.

After painfully watching for years as the automaker's beloved M lineup ballooned in both size and weight - even adding sport utility vehicles - the German's have delivered us a new little jewel. It's not another derivative of the race-bred M3, the highly anticipated next-generation M5 or a sneak preview of the future M6. Instead, this little shot of driving ecstasy comes in the guise of the lowly 1 Series - the entry-level BMW.

BMW invited us to its headquarters in New Jersey for our first driving impressions. Instead of death-by-PowerPoint, the traditional manner of new vehicle introduction, they immediately handed us the key fob to a brand-new 1 Series M Coupe along with a paper map. Our assignment was to drive the back roads for the next two hours to Monticello Motorsports Park, the private racing circuit outside New York City. After extended hot laps followed by lunch, we'd polish the marbles off the tire treads with a drive back to Montvale before a six-hour flight back home. Continue reading...

Continue reading 2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe

2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 May 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe configurator goes live, causes momentary consideration of kidney sale

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 20:02:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, BMW

The 2011 BMW 1M is a highly anticipated two-door said to be created to remind drivers of the 1988 M3. Though it weighs nearly 400 pounds more than the E30 M3, the new 1M does get 340 horsepower courtesy of a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six. If those numbers are intriguing, you may want to head to BMW and see how much it will cost you to own one.

We tested out the configurator for ourselves, and our Alpine White 1M is going to add $53,735 to our AmEx balance. The wife may throw a fit, but we'll probably never see her again anyway... Time to start writing from the road. Thanks for the tip, Luis!

Gallery: 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe: Detroit 2011

2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe configurator goes live, causes momentary consideration of kidney sale originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2011: 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe revs its beating heart

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, BMW

2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe - Click above for high-res image gallery

BMW's latest introduction to the U.S. market bowed today at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, and it's a machine that's meant to light the true enthusiast's heart aflutter: the 2012 1 Series M Coupe. We must say, it looks rather striking in the metallic orange hue you see in our live photo gallery below.

Even more importantly, the 340 horsepower put out by its 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine is said to "capture the soul of the original M3." Or so they say... BMW claims this new sportster was inspired by the 1988 M3, and the German automaker's intention is reportedly to "illustrate its ability to build race car performance into a small car, capable of everyday use."

Expect to see the new 1 Series M Coupe hit dealership lots in the spring of 2011 for $47,010, in limited quantities according to BMW. In the meantime, check out the live photos in our high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe: Detroit 2011

Detroit 2011: 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe revs its beating heart originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW 1M Coupe stops by Paris, doesn't even stay for the show

Noah Joseph — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, BMW

BMW 1M Coupe teasers - Click above for image gallery

Between the 6 Series Coupe concept, the 5 Series Touring wagon and the new X3 crossover, BMW had plenty to show us this year at the Paris Motor Show. But the real surprise, as it turns out, may have been in the French capital during the show, it wasn't even put on display. Instead, the Bavarian automaker took its currently-in-progress 1M Coupe out onto the city's famous tree-lined boulevards, covered up and disguised, but did a suitably Parisian burlesque striptease to give us a glimpse at what to expect.

Aside from the silhouette, all we can see are the front fender, headlamp (which is now taped-up in Zorro-esque fashion for some reason) and part of the air dam - all of which we saw before in the last teaser video - along with a newly-revealed section of the rear bumper and quad-pipe exhaust, plus the wheels protruding from the flared arches. If previous reports prove accurate, there will only be 2,700 examples on offer, so this may be the best look we'll get for some time... better check it out in the gallery below. Thanks for the tip, Jason!

Gallery: BMW 1M Coupe teasers

[Source: BMW M-Power via 1Addicts]

BMW 1M Coupe stops by Paris, doesn't even stay for the show originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: BMW 1 Series M Coupe shows off its insides

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, BMW, Luxury

In true BMW new model roll-out fashion, the hype surrounding the hotter 1 Series M Coupe has been exceedingly well documented. We've spied the car out testing, BMW has shown us videos of the prototypes and now the folks at 1addicts.com have snapped some shots of the M-badged 1's interior, showing a host of upgrades that stand true to the car's beefed up dynamics.

Changes to the 1 Series interior include items like more supportive sport seats, a smaller-diameter steering wheel (from the M3) and two-tone instrument cluster gauges. What's more, we can see the integration of BMW's latest iDrive system in the 1 Coupe, but our favorite part is indeed the fact that a manual gearbox is in place. Dual-clutch setups are nice, but we love being able to shift for ourselves.

In addition to these spy shots, we've also come across the first in-car test video of the 1 Series M Coupe, showing what sort of prowess this little hottie has out on the track. Stop teasing us, BMW - we're ready to conduct our own evaluation. Looking for more shots of the interior? Visit our friends at 1addicts using the link below.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2011 BMW M1/1 Series M

Gallery: Spy Shots: BMW M1 / 1M with quad pipes

[Source: 1addicts]

Spy Shots: BMW 1 Series M Coupe shows off its insides originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: BMW M1/135is to go on sale in Q2 of 2011

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, BMW, Rumormill

BMW M1/1 Series M spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's certainly no secret that BMW is working on a high-powered version of the darling 1 Series coupe. After all, we've seen different mules and prototypes testing on many, many, many occasions. And while the speculation continues as to what the end result will be called (M1? 1M? 135is?), executives within BMW's M division have reportedly confirmed that the car will go on sale in the second quarter of next year.

Regardless of nomenclature, we're pretty stoked over what this potent little 1 Series will bring to the table, and we wonder how it'll fare compared to BMW's grandaddy M3. If the 2011 Q2 on-sale date is to be believed, we won't be surprised if the production car debuts at either the Paris or Los Angeles show later this year.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2011 BMW M1/1 Series M

[Source: 1addicts.com]

Report: BMW M1/135is to go on sale in Q2 of 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turbo'd fours and sixes could power future BMW M machines

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Hatchback, BMW

With new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards looming on the horizon, automakers are in the process of developing engines that strike a balance between ultra-efficiency and high-performance. Aware of the challenges ahead, BMW has begun development of the next generation 3 Series and 1 Series, both due for a redesign in 2013, and according to Ludwig Willisch, BMW's M division CEO, new turbocharged engines are on the horizon for the next M3 and 1 Series M (not, we repeat not, to be dubbed the M1).

A turbo'd six-cylinder will likely replace the 4.0-liter V8 currently fitted to the M3, although BMW hasn't decided if it will use a straight-six or a V6 powerplant. Willisch told Motor Trend that the new engine won't be based on the current 3.0-liter inline six currently employed on the 335i and 135i, and it's still too early in the development process to say which configuration will be used. BMW recognizes the inline-six's light weight is a plus, but packaging constraints may required the use of a V6. Either way, the next M3 will be wider, but Willisch insists, "Engines don't need to be more powerful for the next car. As long as you have lighter weight, you have better performance." Although the idea of a V6-powered Bimmer will surely send the marque's faithful into bouts of rage, weight reduction is the future, and to us, it's music to our ears.

As for the 1 series, there won't be an M version per se, but BMW's in-house tuning division wants to recapture the magic of the original E30 M3 by developing a smaller, lighter coupe to slot in below the next M3. As reported previously, a twin-turbocharged four-cylinder will likely power the new coupe, and according to Willisch, the automaker is aiming for something that puts out around 300 hp and weighs around 2,860 pounds (think RWD VW GTI).

Traditionally, the M variants arrive about a year after the new models are introduced, so expect the next M3 and 1 Series M to debut sometime in 2014.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Turbo'd fours and sixes could power future BMW M machines originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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