It was only ever going to be a matter of time before the petrolheads in BMW's M division got their hands on the 1 Series two-door and gave it some serious horns - even if they couldn't call it an M1.
That name belongs in perpetuity to the astonishing Procar racer of the 1980s, of which just enough were built to guarantee its status as an automotive icon.
So, fellow M-sters, say hello to the 1 Series M Coupé.
The idea, say the Blue Propeller Guys, is combine racing orientated performance and rear-wheel drive with the agility of a compact car - a hot hatch with oversteer, so to speak.
How hot? 250kW in a car that weighs 1495kg (that translates to a power-to-weight ratio of 167kW/ton), hot enough to take it from rest to 100km/h in 4.9 seconds, to 200km/h in 17.3 and on to 250km/h (electronically limited) flat out.
Those 250 kilowatts are provided by a classic BMW three-litre straight six, fed by two small turbochargers (one for each group of three cylinders), providing lightning quick response and max torque (450Nm of it) from 1500-4500rpm, with another 50NM available on overboost. Maximum power comes in at 5900rpm, with most of the power at the top of the rev range, as is typical of M engines.
It drives the rear wheels via a new six-speed transmission with a very short lever throw and, according to BMW, will return an average 9.6 litres/100km and 224g/km of CO2 when driven with decorum.
An electronically controlled, variable differential lock responds to differences in speeds in the right and left rear wheel, locking up as much as necessary (up to 100 percent in extreme circumstances) to keep the rear wheels in line both on slippery surfaces and under power out of corners.
Most of the suspension components owe more to the M3 than the standard 1 Series chassis; the double-pivot front axle and five-link rear axle are made almost entirely of aluminium, with tubular stabilisers, forged-aluminium axle links and even aluminium shock absorbers. The brakes are also straight out of the M racing bin with internally vented, perforated grey iron discs (360mm in front, 350mm at rear) fully floating on alloy disc carriers.
The driving stability control system includes antilock braking, traction control, emergency braking assistance, hill hold, cornering brake control, an anti-fade function and a dry brake function. A switch on the instrument panel invokes M Dynamic Mode which lets the M Coupé get considerably out of shape before spoiling the fun - mostly, says BMW, to allow for the inevitable slip-'n-slide when pulling away on sand or loose snow, although it will also allow significant oversteer.
“I can vouch for its effectiveness” said our launch correspondent Denis Droppa after driving the 1 Series M Coupe on a high performance test course set up at the car's media launch in Cape Town last week.
Denis added: “With all that power it doesn't take much to unstick those broad 265mm rear tyres, allowing an entertaining level of power sliding before the MDM pulls in the reins. Traction assistance can be switched off altogether if you feel well coached in the counter-steering technique.
“To me this 1 Series feels like a proper high performance car with the requisite acceleration, handling and purist driver appeal to justify the M badge. The One feels impressively strong off the line as the fat rear tyres fight for purchase. Official performance figures cite a 0-100km/h sprint of 4.9 seconds, along with the usual governed 250km/h top speed.
“The noise is more hoarse and hardcore than a 135i's thanks to a new exhaust system, although the sound-strangling turbochargers still don't allow as full-voiced a bellow as any normally-aspirated M car we've driven.
At 4380mm long and 1420mm high the M Coupé is the shortest and flattest M yet. It's also 55mm wider than the 135i Coupé at 1803mm thanks to a wider track both front and rear.
The one-piece front apron is dominated by three large air intakes, the outer two leading to the front wheel arches where the air exits through a very narrow opening at high speed just past the wheels, forming an “air curtain” and smoothing the airflow past the wheel arches - a first says BMW, for a production car.
(This technology is also featured on the (mildly) facelifted 1 Series Coupé and Convertible, also released in South Africa this week. Apart from a revised front spoiler to accommodate the “air curtain” ducts, new features include restyled headlights clusters and revised interior trim.)
The Hot One runs on 19” M light-alloy rims and comes in white, metallic black and a particularly vibrant metallic orange, available only on this model.
PRICES
1 Series M Coupé - R537 500.
135i Coupé - R443 500
135i Coupé AT - R470 700
135i Convertible - R510 000
135i Convertible AT - R537 200
125i Coupé - R364 500
125i Coupé AT - R383 300
125i Convertible - R423 000
125i Convertible AT - R441 800
120d Coupé - R350 500
120d Coupé AT - R367 100
120d Convertible - R370 500
120d Convertible AT - R387 100