UPDATES on BMW 1M / M1 news, rumors, and speculation

[Levi]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

...it is also to show a future direction of M that has previously been forgotten...

because of the X5 and X6 M.

Nice avatar with M1 and Quads.

Will the name of the car be revealed?

[KSA ///M3]

Thanks SCOTT26 for the info. There is a rumor that the 1er M will only be offered in a 6-Speed manual transmission!! Is that true? and will the optional competition wheels be in 19 inch with similar offset to the M3's one?

[zuggerat89]

Scott, that's an interesting avatar

[LeifW]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

It is purely a "youth" project it is aimed at younger customers , it is also to show a future direction of M that has previously been forgotten.

Hopefully, that means it won't be priced too high so those younger customers ( and corresponding lower incomes) can affrod it.

Leif W.

[HBspeed]

Originally Posted by KSA ///M3

Thanks SCOTT26 for the info. There is a rumor that the 1er M will only be offered in a 6-Speed manual transmission!! Is that true? and will the optional competition wheels be in 19 inch with similar offset to the M3's one?

I hope so! That would be a great way to "protect" the overall speed advantage of the M3 while giving the M1 the power it deserves. That way fastest times whether straight line or track would be DCT for M3 and manual for M1, thus creating a larger perceived performance gap for the precious M3 owners. Not to mention it keeps the cars purely for the enthusiasts

[gonerogue]

Originally Posted by LeifW

Hopefully, that means it won't be priced too high so those younger customers ( and corresponding lower incomes) can affrod it.

Leif W.

I'm also interested to see what is considered a younger customer. Currently, the 1 series has the lowest average owner age of the Bimmers, but I don't think you can apply those statistics to an M that is going to likely carry a 10K premium so as to not cannibalize 335i sales (and make up for the inherent cost difference for materials and development, of course). When configuring common options options, I wouldn't doubt that we'd be looking at a ~$50K car.

I don't know, I am not privy to the market statistics that BMW has, but I can't imagine that the target audience of a modestly optioned $50k car (not fully loaded) is 25-35.

[MarcusDubya77]

I definitely am interested to know if this will happen, because I plan on purchasing a 1 in 2011

[PrimoM3]

Guys, I think they mean "a younger customer to ///M as a product category" not BMW as a brand. It's still a luxury brand and ///M carries a premium on top of that.

[BForbes]

Originally Posted by Primo135

Guys, I think they mean "a younger customer to ///M as a product category" not BMW as a brand. It's still a luxury brand and ///M carries a premium on top of that.

I would have to agree.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by Primo135

Guys, I think they mean "a younger customer to ///M as a product category" not BMW as a brand. It's still a luxury brand and ///M carries a premium on top of that.

Originally Posted by BForbes

I would have to agree.

Right you both are--we will still see an increase in the cost of the car--perhaps it will not be as steep as in other ///M vehicles--allowing an ///M car to be within reach of those it might not previously have been.

Scott has already thrown out the 10K Euro upcharge for EU...so in the US it will be anywhere from 10K dollars to 15K dollars over the 36K 135 price.

Right in that 45-50K sweet spot....makes sense to me....

[gonerogue]

Originally Posted by Primo135

Guys, I think they mean "a younger customer to ///M as a product category" not BMW as a brand. It's still a luxury brand and ///M carries a premium on top of that.

But I want to have my cake and eat it, too! I am just in denial and hope to be able to afford this car so that I can reasonably count it in for my next car. ED on this car could be very attractive and keep it in the running, though.

FWIW, I am 25 and can only hope that such a car would be targeted at my age bracket, but that seems unlikely.

[LeifW]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

Right in that 45-50K sweet spot....makes sense to me....

I am hoping for an 6 to 8K premium over the 135i. 45K, while up there, would be doable and understandable, given all the performance modifications..

Leif W.

[Levi]

Originally Posted by gonerogue

But I want to have my cake and eat it, too! I am just in denial and hope to be able to afford this car so that I can reasonably count it in for my next car. ED on this car could be very attractive and keep it in the running, though.

FWIW, I am 25 and can only hope that such a car would be targeted at my age bracket, but that seems unlikely.

I am 20 and am very interested about the car. If I want to have it need ~50.000 €. The thing is that there is not only the car but also assurance and maintenance. This car will be affordable for young people of your age, but only if they studied, for example get there Master at the age of 23 at once get a good work. And I think this is the target of M1.

[Amalfitano]

Since we're all basically doing it with our "i think BMW should... M branch should...", i'm pretending to have final say over this M's production.

Let's say there is the fear of a low price "cannibalizing" 335i sales...

Well if they are the same price for comparison's sake, what makes someone go for the 335i? the added room probably? some more of the inherent BMW creature comforts? whereas most of us bought the 1 instead of the 335i because it's lighter and smaller, so we wouldn't ever choose a 335, so why make decisions based on this? to appease BMW heads...

okay, no power seats even as an option. To the enthusiast, this is reduced weight, target is still targeted, 335 sales unaffected.

On to the M3...

"it's not a real M without quads!!!!" if your target is a new audience and you're afraid of cannibalizing the M3 sales, keep a dual exhaust. M3 people stay with their M3's, new people don't care neccesarily, enthusiasts get the reduced weight.

Make decisions that target enthusiasts (and really the only M/T isn't a perfect thought to only get enthusiasts. There are plenty of race-oriented people that like the idea of the DCT and want to see how well it holds in race application), let the show-off crowd stick with the M3, or get a 335i and rebadge it M...

Make the car more rigid to start, lower to start so that 18's make sense, leave the 19's to the M3 (smaller=lighter=better, but we want room for a big brake kit), leave the 3 mode dampening to the M3 and keep the stiffest set-up for our guy.

Nav? who needs it. Don't have it as an option and the crowd that wants it can go to the M3. (okay maybe the nav and fancy radio set-up can stay). But basically if you're afraid to "cannibalize" AND are targetting a new crowd, you don't need a car with the best and latest gadgets. Advertise it as much. Then this M can be allowed to be faster because it's simply a different breed.

[Levi]

Originally Posted by Amalfitano

Since we're all basically doing it with our "i think BMW should... M branch should...", i'm pretending to have final say over this M's production.

Let's say there is the fear of a low price "cannibalizing" 335i sales...

Well if they are the same price for comparison's sake, what makes someone go for the 335i? the added room probably? some more of the inherent BMW creature comforts? whereas most of us bought the 1 instead of the 335i because it's lighter and smaller, so we wouldn't ever choose a 335, so why make decisions based on this? to appease BMW heads...

okay, no power seats even as an option. To the enthusiast, this is reduced weight, target is still targeted, 335 sales unaffected.

On to the M3...

"it's not a real M without quads!!!!" if your target is a new audience and you're afraid of cannibalizing the M3 sales, keep a dual exhaust. M3 people stay with their M3's, new people don't care neccesarily, enthusiasts get the reduced weight.

Make decisions that target enthusiasts (and really the only M/T isn't a perfect thought to only get enthusiasts. There are plenty of race-oriented people that like the idea of the DCT and want to see how well it holds in race application), let the show-off crowd stick with the M3, or get a 335i and rebadge it M...

Make the car more rigid to start, lower to start so that 18's make sense, leave the 19's to the M3 (smaller=lighter=better, but we want room for a big brake kit), leave the 3 mode dampening to the M3 and keep the stiffest set-up for our guy.

Nav? who needs it. Don't have it as an option and the crowd that wants it can go to the M3. (okay maybe the nav and fancy radio set-up can stay). But basically if you're afraid to "cannibalize" AND are targetting a new crowd, you don't need a car with the best and latest gadgets. Advertise it as much. Then this M can be allowed to be faster because it's simply a different breed.

+1 You said what I always thought. BMW M should make the M1 faster than the M3, but what shall keep poeple buying the M3 is the more comfort, as the M1 will be more "hard-core". BMW M would not lose any M3 customers, but get some from Audi, TT-S/RS and Porsche 911/Cayman/S.

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by Levi

BMW M should make the M1 faster than the M3, but what shall keep people buying the M3 is the more comfort, as the M1 will be more "hard-core".

If the M1 or 1M ends up being more "hard-core", it will be similar to the Z4 M Coupe vs. E46 M3 comparison. The Z4 M was obviously more hard core than the E46, and typically appealed to a slightly different audience. One big difference with that comparison though, was that it is a 2 seater vs. a 2+2. The M1 and M3 are both 2+2 coupes, but I don't see why they couldn't take the hard core approach with the M1.

[emos325]

bummed out about the personalization program not making it to this model but vorstiener will help out with that. what are the car options if they aren't going to do the personalization options this round? no carbon fiber roof to help lower center of gravity, will it still have a sunroof? what kind of weight savings is BMW gonna do? any more news scott about the test drive? is it going to have an ///M diff like the M6 or just a Lsd replacement for the e-diff. also with regard to the exhaust note i am assuming u mean the bmw s1000rr superbike, was that with the quads on it? thanks for your time and sorry for any repeats!!

[Username135]

I think the price will start in the 48,000-52,000 range without options.

[SCOTT26]

Now that Dr.Segler has let the cat out of the bag with an official confirmation (still see it as a 135iS?)
It is now all systems go. We will launch the car in December so currently we are in Pre-production with tests ongoing both in an abandoned airstrip in Germany , and the production crew are doing tests with a 135i as we speak in Los Angeles for our arrival later this summer.

What I can tell you is that I have indeed had my time behind the wheel of a prototype and I am compiling a report for hopefully later this week or (realistically) probably for the weekend.

What will disappoint some is that although the car is half finished with the deadline almost upon us. Is that not many have had the opportunity to sample the M3 CSL, which in a way adds to the unexpectedness of what such a car was like. Others who have driven the CSL might see it as being all too familiar and depends on whether they had a good relationship with the car. Although many have a love-hate relationship with the 135i.

As for now M3 CSL is the closest comparison.

[PrimoM3]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

As for now M3 CSL is the closest comparison.

Woot!

[Evice]

"As for now M3 CSL is the closest comparison." wow.

Does this mean this var will be as limited production as m3 csl ? M3 csl was roughly about 3050 lbs.. is it going to be that "light" ?

[amdmaxx]

thanks for update, will wait for test drive comments as well.

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Now that Dr.Segler has let the cat out of the bag with an official confirmation (still see it as a 135iS?)
It is now all systems go. We will launch the car in December so currently we are in Pre-production with tests ongoing both in an abandoned airstrip in Germany , and the production crew are doing tests with a 135i as we speak in Los Angeles for our arrival later this summer.

What I can tell you is that I have indeed had my time behind the wheel of a prototype and I am compiling a report for hopefully later this week or (realistically) probably for the weekend.

What will disappoint some is that although the car is half finished with the deadline almost upon us. Is that not many have had the opportunity to sample the M3 CSL, which in a way adds to the unexpectedness of what such a car was like. Others who have driven the CSL might see it as being all too familiar and depends on whether they had a good relationship with the car. Although many have a love-hate relationship with the 135i.

As for now M3 CSL is the closest comparison.