BMW 1 Series M Coupe (From York Press)

BMW 1 Series M Coupe

9:20am Friday 30th December 2011 in Road Test By Steve Nelson

MEET Mr Muscle... the smallest of BMW’s sports-oriented M cars and the one that looks as if it just rolled out of a gym rather than off a production line.

Mechanically, the 1 Series M Coupe shares many things with the M3, but stretched over a shortened and modified M3 chassis.

This goes some way to explaining this compact car’s muscular stance.

Indeed, I am reminded of those squat power-packed Soviet Bloc weightlifters who would sweat and grunt their way to winning stacks of medals at the Olympics.

Sitting on a wide track borrowed from its big brother, it shares the 3.0-litre, six-cylinder petrol motor of the 135i, but in 1M form the twinturbo unit boasts a mighty 340 bhp and a useful 369lb/ft of torque. That translates to an awful lot of grunt.

All this adds up to a car honed to provide a wonderful ride and superb handling balance.

An eagerly-awaited addition to the M range, the IM was charged with taking on some of the best in the business when it comes to road and track thrills, such as Audi’s TT RS and the Porsche Cayman R. And so BMW gave it performance figures that come within a whisker of those of the mighty M3.

That means it will shoot from 0 to 62mph in under five seconds and keep on accelerating until it reaches an electronically-limited 155mph.

And it does this with an ace up its bulging sleeves – the added practicality of being able to transport four adults in comfort.

That’s not all, because the IM comes kitted out with a host of luxury features such as climate control, cossetting plump leather seats, cruise control, multi-function leather steering wheel and an excellent audio system as standard.

But let’s not forget why we’re really here – to test the drive qualities of one of BMW’s baddest and best.

With all the best bits from the M3 under you and that massaged in-line turbo six-cylinder motor up front, the 1M delivers a sparkling performance that anyone with a fondness for old-school rear-drive fun will love. It even comes with BMW’s trick M differential lock to enhance grip and stability.

Riding on 19-inch alloy wheels, the car is weighty, but direct steering never fails to communicate the road conditions. The stubby manual gearlever slots securely into the ratio of your choosing no matter how fast you shift. And despite the car’s short wheelbase and wide track, the ride is more forgiving than you could hope for.

In traffic, the 1M’s engine emits a grumbling noise – nothing too throaty, but the sound of a beast upset at being kept on a leash.

You need to be away from city streets and cluttered A-roads to give the 1m a free rein. Kick down on the accelerator and in comes the Overboost function for an extra burst of acceleration. Or press the tiny, innocuous M button on the steering wheel to bring increased urgency to the throttle response.

In comes a deep-chested rasp that rises to a rich, baritone wail, transmitted to the outside world via four tailpipes that give the biggest clue to the car’s performance values.

On a practical note, you’ll struggle to detect the forced induction assistance, with only the slightest hint of turbo whistle audible at low speeds. Wind up the motor and the result is an elastic response, encouraging you to hold a gear for as long as is humanly possible.

Overtaking potential is present in spades, and thanks to the engine’s near-bottomless pit of torque you rarely have to drop a gear to make a move.

Factor in the car’s impressive agility and composure over challenging roads and it’s hard not to be impressed. Grip is in plentiful supply until you turn the traction system off, and then it’s a whole new ball game. But get this; there’s no need to be flying at some crazy speed to enjoy yourself. The car’s eagerness to play and the modest power and grip levels allow you to break loose at sensible speeds, not supercar go-directly-to-jail-do-notpass- go velocities.

The 1M offers drivers a simple combination of an abundance of power, an agile chassis, a composed ride without any electronic interference, a trick differential and a manual gearbox.

This modern take on a back-tobasics approach to performance motoring is a rare one, but BMW has hit the jackpot with the right blend of mechanical components and emotional experiences. The1M serves up an intoxicating cocktail of thrills for keen, experienced drivers.

Shame that it only became available in the UK as a limited edition of 450.

factfile

BMW 1 Series M Coupe

PRICE: from £40,020

ENGINE: 3.0-litre petrol developing 340bhp

TRANSMISSION: six-speed manual, driving the rear wheels

PERFORMANCE: 0-62mph 4.9 seconds; top speed 155mph

ECONOMY: 29.4mpg combined

CO2 RATING: 224g/km