Drool: 10 Minutes of BMW 1-Series M & E30 M3 Goodness

This is pretty much automotive porn. Enjoy.

[BMW via Youtube]

BMW 1-Series M Faster Than Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG & Porsche Cayman S!

Just days after officially releasing images of the 1-series M, BMW was eager to see how it officially faired on the famous Nurburgring.

The official time of the 1-series M? 8 minutes and 12 seconds. That’s faster than Mercedes’ C63 AMG and even faster than a Porsche Cayman S! In fact that’s even faster than the outgoing BMW M5 and the previous generation E46 M3.

If you’re concerned that it’s faster than the current generation M3, no need to worry. The E92 can go around the ‘Ring in 8 minutes 5 seconds. Hardly surprising considering that big V8 under its hood.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, BMW’s other hotted versions of the M3 also were faster. The M3 CSL recorded a significantly quicker 7 minutes and 50 second lap time, while the M3 GTS did it in 7 minutes and 48 seconds.

[BimmerFile]

Oh Hi: 2012 BMW 1-Series M Coupe

Oh my. I think I just died. This looks incredible!

Can we just talk about that front facia for a second? Holy aggressive! It looks quite menacing all while incorporating BMW’s very slight refresh of the 1-series. Out back you’ll find quad tail pipes along with newly designed LED tail lights.And good Lord, check out those 19 inch wheels! Gorgeous! The design is clean and simple, not too flashy, yet aggressive and masculine all at the same time – exactly the way an M car should be.

But what’s finally under that hood? Speculation had the 1-series M making about 350 horsepower but the official numbers have it pegged at 335 horses and 332 pound feet of torque coming from BMW’s tuned twin turbo’d 3.0 litre inline six. A bit disappointing in power, but remember, German automakers are always very conservative with their power numbers. It likely makes more juice than the numbers on paper. Not to mention the 1 M comes with an overboost feature that can give it 37 more pound feet of torque, which means a 369 pound feet of torque. This is something that has always pissed me off about BMW. If you can make it more powerful, why not just make it that way all the time? Why even have the choice of less power?

One thing that doesn’t piss me off about BMW though, is their dedication to almost always offering a manual transmission and in the case of the 1-series M, it’s the only transmission you get. There were rumours of it also coming with a DSG, but thankfully you we won’t even get an automatic transmission option. A true driver’s car!

The 1M is also 77 pounds lighter than a 135i. Combine the weight savings with the manual transmission and the twin turbo six and the 1-series M will get from 0-100 in 4.7 seconds.

The 1-series M also has a wider track than the 135i by almost three inches. The car itself is wider by 2.1 inches, it’s 0.5 inches taller and is 0.2 inches longer. All t of this, combined with BMW’s signature weight balance obsession means the 1-series M will be one hell of a car on rails.

After my glowing review of the 135i, I was so sure it would be my next car. But it won’t. The 1-series M will be for sure.

I have to stop typing right now to wipe all my drool off the keyboard, but in the meantime, check out these awesome pics of the 1-series M over at Autoblog.

[Autoblog]

Six Speed Manual Only for BMW 1-Series M!

Amazing!

BMW has just announced that there will be no automatic transmission option on the 1-series M! That is how you know BMW is serious about this being a true performance car. On top of that, they finally put the horsepower rumours to rest. The 1-series M will come with 340 horsepower from a 3.0 inline six. No torque numbers are released yet, but expect them to be in the 300 range as well. Drool.

And if all that weren’t enough, it will also have a chasis, braking system and rear differential identical to the M3. BMW claims the 1-series M is faster than the M3 around the Nordschleife track!

BMW has released the image above as well, which is less exciting since it’s still all swirly camo’d out. Expect an official reveal in December.

I am seriously in love. I seriously need this car. And I will seriously sell my soul to own it. Not really. But maybe. Probably.

[Top Speed]

New Details Emerge On My Next Car

Once the day comes to get rid of my 128i (which will be a very sad day indeed), there is little doubt in my mind that it will be replaced by another 1-series. I’m definitely hooked.

After experiencing the orgasm of an amazing car that is the M3, I can only imagine what a smaller, tighter and more nimble version would be like. BMW is making my dream a reality by producing an M version of the 1-series.

A BMW salesman named David Aviles from Maryland won a sales competition where the prize was being invited to an event called The Power of M. At the event, a few details of the 1-series M were revealed. Luckily for bloggers and perspective buyers like me, Aviles decided to spill the beans.

A bit of bad news to start, the 1-series M will be a limited production model. That means BMW will probably not budge on the price and getting a car spec’d perfectly to your liking will be increasingly difficult. However the good part is that not every Tom Dick and Harry will have the same car as you.

Secondly, along with limited production will be limited colour choices. Alpine White, Jet Black and Valencia Orange Metallic are the only colours to choose from. That’s fine with me, I’ll take Jet Black with those delicious gunmetal CSL-style wheels. Oh and black quad exhaust tips please.

But probably the best news, and albeit the most surprising news, is that the 1-series M will come with manual transmission only! Yes! I don’t care how good the DSG transmission is, it will never replace the pure joy and driver involvement of a true manual transmission and I’m happy that BMW is catering to that market (aka me).

No word on enigne specs, but the new rumour is 350 horsepwer from a turbocharged inline six.

God, I need this car. Badly.

[Bimmerpost]

Riding Shotgun In the BMW 1-Series M

Must. Have. Now.

This easily is going to be my next car purchase. Check it out the new member to the M family from the eyes of the passenger as it has a go around the track.