Call it the M1. Get over the M1 from the 80s. The nomenclature makes more sense now. No need to repeat past mistakes.

As long as we’re on that note, I personally think they should make the current 3 series coupes and convertibles 4-series, but whatever.

O’ya!

Man, I forgot how ugly the front of that car truly is. At least we know where the Aztec designer went after leaving Gov’t Motors.

So which class of vehicles would the 1 series M version compete against exactly?

S3?

Maybe WRX Sti and Evo MR?

Possibly a priority because it got spanked so bad by the TT-S??

spanked by Audi’s TTitieS? why you foul-mouthed villain.

if it has the same 3.0 straight six twin turbo from the 135, my bet is that it would be similar to a 135i with M package and a tune similar to what Burger Tuning does (jb3).
I hope prices wont be too high!

Rather than spend money developing 1-Series M, BMW should make 1-Series lighter and more affordable.

Still, 1-Series is infinitely better than Audi TT-S, but one has to understand a few, simple things about automobiles to understand why.

“BMW hopes the new model will attract new customers who might otherwise be unable to afford any of the current M models”

So like they are going to price this $10k less than an m3 at $44k ? and that will get someone to buy it.
BMW needs to hire some market research people.

The way the 3 series are looking and performing these days, I am glad that BMW decided to make an M for the 1 series. The e30s have always been the best and most memorable of the 3 series to me and the 1 series seem to resemble it somewhat.

To be apart of the next-generation 1-series
Price: $45-47k in the US
DrFill

Why not? Complete the lineup. AMG has a full line with all the Mercedes-Benz models. Might as well do the same BMW.

So some of you think this would be a bargain at roughly the same price as a Shelby GT500. Huh… it certainly does take all kinds of folks to make the world go round.

Not saying it’s a bargain
But a 4 second BMW for less than an ugly-as-sin Ford
You kinda make a solid argument
Nice work, Johnny!
DrFill

Doc, you know it makes my left leg twitch and my right palm sweat when you talk like that. Quit being such a stranger… we like it when you stoke the fire.

Just like the 6 Series is the coupe of 5 Series, name the 1 Series Coupe and Convertible the 2 Series, and then add the M2. Simple.

^^^^ That makes sense, I mean 3 5 and 7 series are sedans, 2 and 6 series could be coupes and convertibles. And the x6 is sort of like a coupe.

As much as this excites me, I was hoping for the tii 1 series. Whatev, I don’t have to but it

The performance figures should be fairly easy to guess. Let’s see…

135i = 300HP, 3400lb
M3 = 414HP, 3700lb

And since “M1″ cannot accelerate quicker than M3… I’m going to guess around 360HP. That should make comfortable enough to pull away from base the Evo and STi.

Of course, the other thing they can do is look into serious weight reduction, and bump the power up only mildly… doubt it though. Carbon fibre costs money, and price is an issue for 1-series.

come on BMW you had your chance to make an “M1″ to fight the R8, but you didn’t so hand the name over

this is interesting , too bad it will be BMW’s Cayman, a car with a lot of potential but intentionally kept slower than the M3. at least there are tuners out there.

The 1 series is a overpriced overweight pig. This M1 will probably cost $53k since a nicely optioned 135 is $43k – stupid.

summary: another bmw you still won’t be able to afford

Eh….Shelby GT500 ugly? Really? I’m not a huge Mustang fan by any means, but I’d take a Shelby GT500 over an M1 any day.

Well it’s a fact that you should buy a Mustang (or a Camaro) because its American. It’s not cool to drive imports.

GM. AN American Revolution

nmofgm : the public computer in the library is for reference, stop hogging it for your senseless blog comments, some kids need to do their homework… go back to your trailer home…

revive the S54b32 from the E46 M3 and the last M coupe and M roadster and like i have said before, change the model designations, call it the M2 235i, 228i, etc… and i also agree with renaming the 3 series coupes and convertibles to 4 series name, although one can easily argue that they are much more related to the 3 series sedans than the 6-series coupes are to the 5-series sedans
If they changed the 3 series coupe and convertible’s names to 4 series, id say they must keep the M versions named the M3, the name just has way too much history, largest volume seller for M division, and probably by far the biggest following….

Nckkop, I’ve thought about doing it that way too. However, I just figured they would call the new (real) M1 the “M”. Putting a number after it seems redundant for a car that’s going to be coming from the M division and not based on any other platform/series.

As far as history behind the name, I agree there is a lot of history behind the M3 name, but I don’t think that would kill the car. It’s more like opening up a new branch of history.

What’s good for General motors is good for America

NMOFGM, you obviously have no idea what is good for America. What would be good for GM would be to sell the company to foreign owners and let the european engineers help GM produce a couple good cars for once. There’s a reason they needed to be bailed out by the government, if you make ****ty products then nobody will buy them and you go bankrupt.

GM. An American Failure.

i wonder how the current 1series sales are. I lived in town where there’s full of bmws, porsche, benz, lexus, etc. but hardly see 1series around. I know BMW had BIG goal of selling these 1series 100k per year or something like that but wondering if they are even coming close with that figure