BMW M1 to be unleashed by M division! (OFFICIAL confirmation from M boss)

[3s-a-charm]

Originally Posted by southlight

In case some forgot these pictures posted earlier:






Best regards,
south

No hood bulge... I'm thinking that with the recent reintroduction of the "IS" badging, there will more likely be a 135is with an //M treatment, not a full "M1" as indicated. Additional HP and other cosmetic items sounds like an "IS", not a full "//M" to me... - CF roof on a 1 series is cool, though. I always did like the 135.

[BForbes]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

We are not going after the R8. BMW do not follow the competition.

The Product expansion for our compact models and Project-i Programme is the current focus within BMW.

We can make more profit from a range of models developed from an initial platform than we can by producing one platform for one car.
We have just went through a very tough economic climate where we found that customers were downsizing to smaller , more efficient vehicles.
With the highest growth to be made in the coming decade is within the compact segment and BMW will offer a portfolio of premium compact models. Cars that will fit within the BMW image by offering compact Sporty models with excellent driving dynamics that would shame cars costing two or three times as much. Again BMW have just shown up their key competitors who are now scrambling to offer solutions for their compact platforms.

The E82 M1 is the grand finale but it is also the beginning of a new chapter.
And a new era in compact performance BMW's.

The name M1 was put to a focus group in December and in voting , M1 had the highest amount of votes from a marketing point of view it resonates more and offers continuity with the rest of the M portfolio.
Regarding the M1 supercar , There will be no production car of the M1 homage , That concept was strictly as it was termed a Homage. the M1 supercar is a product of the seventies and it has a rich history both as a concept and in motorSport. It is time to leave the car to History so it will never be forgotten and open a new chapter for the 1 series.

Thanks a lot Scott26!

[BBK]

Problem is, we all want a car which in theory would beat an M3...

Is BMW going to build a car that will be faster on a straight and in the corners than their halo car the M3? I think not... Which sucks... big time...

Stupid really, Audi made the TTRS which is super quick, so why BMW should be able to build a car of similar spec.

[Jaguar66]

!

[ORIGIN M.]

You've got to love that power dome hood!

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by 3s-a-charm

No hood bulge... I'm thinking that with the recent reintroduction of the "IS" badging, there will more likely be a 135is with an //M treatment, not a full "M1" as indicated. Additional HP and other cosmetic items sounds like an "IS", not a full "//M" to me... - CF roof on a 1 series is cool, though. I always did like the 135.

The "iS" will come sooner than this- this is an ///M project, and has been for some time. They would not go through all the trouble to make this particular model an "iS". ///M does not design those cars. I wish I could explain more but at this time I can not. The car in the photos was an early prototype and additionally there is no "need" for a hood bulge on this car for testing purposes it would be strictly for cosmetics, this car the spy photos are of had nothing to do with cosmetics, just platform and mechanicals (and it was shot in Garching outside of ///M). ///M boss Dr. Kay has already said that the project is a go and we will see it at Geneva with a launch in 2011 as a final hurrah for the 1er coupe.

The next 1 is being built on a modular shared platform with several other vehicles. In the future ///M models will launch soon after their serial cars, as ///M is no more involved in the design from the beginning- Dr. Kay has insisted that there is a market for the ///M cars from the SOP so why start developing after the regular models- do it at the same time.... so 6-9 months difference will be the ///M versions.

This 1er will be the last Frankenstein as it were...

[H0v07]

135 looks better.

[nusevad]

plz dont call it a M1...

[madman23]

No twin turbo V8?? o wait, this isnt mercedes. lol

[sparoz]

I think from a marketing point of view, the name M1 make sense. I know for many, it is the only super car that wears a BMW badge. At the end, it is a business, and most of the M1 buyers would not have remembered the original M1.

The only other possible name that I believe could fit is M Coupe, but I would believe BMW is a pragmatic company, and will do what it needs to sell more cars - that makes M1 the most logical name.

[M2BMW]

Originally Posted by GhostRideTheWhip

Also, if the M1 gets everything the M3 has, why is the motivation to spring for an M3? It's getting the M diff, the M double clutch transmission, and M suspension. If I can get everything the M3 has for a smaller, cheaper package then why not? Nothing sets this apart from the M3.

I think the same question could be asked, why get a 335 when the 135 has .......

[sparoz]

Originally Posted by GhostRideTheWhip

Also, if the M1 gets everything the M3 has, why is the motivation to spring for an M3? It's getting the M diff, the M double clutch transmission, and M suspension. If I can get everything the M3 has for a smaller, cheaper package then why not? Nothing sets this apart from the M3.

There would be a market for both as M3 gets bigger and more expensive.

[oasis3582]

Originally Posted by BBK

Problem is, we all want a car which in theory would beat an M3...

Is BMW going to build a car that will be faster on a straight and in the corners than their halo car the M3? I think not... Which sucks... big time...

Stupid really, Audi made the TTRS which is super quick, so why BMW should be able to build a car of similar spec.

135 can beat a 335, so why not? Main difference should be size, 4-door option, etc.

[ARES45]

I would like to see this car skirting just under 3300lbs with hp ~ 370 and don't limit the torque to be less than the frickin m3. Just cause they decided put a NA engine in it, don't punish the M1.

Also, just call it the m1, they call it a m3, m5, and m6 don't they? the original won't mean anything to 85% of the people who will end up buying this car anyway. The people who actually bought the original m1 don't have any sort of union and they likely won't be buying the new m1 so I don't see the point. To me BMW has never really been about supercars anyway and I think most would agree with that, just because they built one way back when doesn't mean we need to hold it sacred forever.

I guess if they really had to they could call it a 1m like the x5/6m's, but I would still feel like that would be stupid as well.

I would also like to see the gas tank grow to about 16 gal please, but i doubt they would spend the money on something like that.

Start it in the upper 40's and I will look at it but I don't think I will dip to high into the 50's for any vehicle.

[ORIGIN M.]

Make it a real stunning example of what BMW history is all about.

Bring back a reasonable yet exciting M coupe worthy of the mark!

[sparoz]

Originally Posted by GhostRideTheWhip

But compare it to the current M3. I'm guessing with a simple ECU flash, you'd be pumping out close to 400-410 HP? That would kill the current gen M3, especially off the line.

I guess if off the line is what you after then you don't really need a M. In fact many cars have better off the line costing less.

With just a ECU flash, I doubted you can beat the M3 on track.

[Robert]

Originally Posted by GhostRideTheWhip

What do you mean by that?

I think he means the M1 will wrap up the E82 platform to usher in the new design for 1 series.

[niif]

So what's left?

X1
X1 M
X3 M
X7
X7 M
M7

I think BMW may want to reconsider their future car model naming, er.. numbering, convention. Maybe I'm the only one but I predict a radical change in the way BMW continues to name their car models in the future, specifically the series names.

Also if BMW decides to M-ify the 1ers, I wouldn't be surprised if they release some sort of M7 'supercar.' Not saying they would keep the look of the current 7er, but that they might add another M to cap off their model line. Maybe they'll call it an M2 or M8.

Edit: Now that I think about it, maybe BMW will make an M7 and keep the luxurious style to compete with the S63. I still think a supercar is lurking, though

I don't know! Just some crazy speculations

[M2BMW]

Originally Posted by GhostRideTheWhip

The 1er doesn't have everything the 3er does.



But compare it to the current M3. I'm guessing with a simple ECU flash, you'd be pumping out close to 400-410 HP? That would kill the current gen M3, especially off the line.

But that is my point, people will buy the car that meets their requirements ...

[oasis3582]

Originally Posted by GhostRideTheWhip

The 1er doesn't have everything the 3er does.

True, but the 3er also doesn't have everything the 1er does.

[SCOTT26]

Audi made the TTRS which is super quick, so why BMW should be able to build a car of similar spec.

I have driven the TTRS and whilst I agree with you the car is exceptionally quick it falls in to the poor dynamics category of most performance cars today. Straight-line speed is not what a performance car should be all about that is why BMW and BMW M are different in every respect.

To make a good M car you have to have a great platform to begin with.
In the case of the E92 M3 the car is based on the segment leading 3er Coupe , Just as the M1 will be based on the excellent small Coupe of the 1er.
Both are excellent drivers cars offering the right balance of Performance and dynamics.
If your base model does not live up to it's intentions, how can the performance model build upon this?

More Speed and being exceptionally quick is one aspect of performance cars but I prefer cars which offer more , much more than just going in one direction. That is what seperates BMW from the competition.

[Convertible]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

I have driven the TTRS and whilst I agree with you the car is exceptionally quick it falls in to the poor dynamics category of most performance cars today. Straight-line speed is not what a performance car should be all about that is why BMW and BMW M are different in every respect.

To make a good M car you have to have a great platform to begin with.
In the case of the E92 M3 the car is based on the segment leading 3er Coupe , Just as the M1 will be based on the excellent small Coupe of the 1er.
Both are excellent drivers cars offering the right balance of Performance and dynamics.
If your base model does not live up to it's intentions, how can the performance model build upon this?

More Speed and being exceptionally quick is one aspect of performance cars but I prefer cars which offer more , much more than just going in one direction. That is what seperates BMW from the competition.

+1