EACH GENERATION of the BMW M3 has gained extra millimetres, kilograms, bhp and, perhaps more significantly, Euros. But put it next to the original and the gulf between them is vast. Hence there’s a gaping hole at the bottom of the M car range.
This time next year that hole will be plugged by the new 1 Series M Coupé. Note that it will not be called M1; that name is to be kept in the museum on BMW’s 1970s supercar.
However, one look at the camouflaged, yet unmistakably widened, body work of the development car is all it takes to confirm that this will be a car worthy of the M badge.
The test car has an unfinished interior, though it’s clear that bespoke instruments will be part of the package, as will a six-speed manual gearbox. Given the widespread movement to dual-clutch systems, many enthusiasts will be glad to hear about that. Use of a straight-six engine should also raise a smile though the Coupés unit is heavily based on the turbocharged 3.0-litre fitted to the Z4 sDrive35is.
We’re only allowed a ride-along in the new prototype, but as BMWs test driver brakes hard for the first corner it’s clear that the Coupé is planted and stable. Even from the passenger seat it feels lighter and more nimble than the M3.
Mid-corner grip is high and it’s apparently easy to adjust the car’s line with the throttle. Overall it feels well-balanced and, crucially, fun. That’s due in part to the inclusion of the M3s sophisticated rear differential.
BMW is adamant that the 1 Series M Coupé will be relatively affordable when it is launched in the summer of 2011. A figure of €70,000 is estimated.
– Shane O’Donoghue
FACT FILE
Engine: 2,979cc 6-cylinder turbo petrol, rear-wheel drive
Performance: 0-100km/h in 5.0 seconds (est)
Maximum Speed: 250km/h
Fuel Economy: 9.4 l/100km 210g/km CO2 (est)
Tax Band: F (estimated)
Annual Road Tax: €1,050 (est)
Price: €70,000 (approx)
Available in Ireland: Early 2011