BMW might consider M1 to boost 1-Series image

BMW M1 Artist's Impression

CAR Online reports that BMW is considering creating an M version of the 1-Series in efforts to boost it’s image especially since it will be introduced in the US soon in coupe form. Many have considered the BMW 1-Series, which the bulk of it’s models feature 4-cylinder engines not a real BMW because of it’s relative affordability and engine use.

It will most likely feature the 3.2 litre inline-6 engine used in the previous generation E46 BMW M3, as well as the current BMW Z4 M Roadster and Coupe. I’ve driven the 130i M Sport, and a test drive report on that little pocket rocket will be coming up soon. I thoroughly enjoyed the drive, and cannot imagine what a blast an M 1-series will be.

Related Posts:
BMW 1-Series Cabriolet Artists Impression
BMW 1-Series Coupe Spyshot
2007 BMW 1-series Cabriolet Spy Video
New BMW 1-series 3-door revealed
BMW 1-Series Kermit the Frog Advertisement
Hartge H1 5.0 tuned BMW 1-series

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Paul Tan

After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Comments

  • nissan130Y (Member) on May 05, 2007 at 2:34 am

    wow… just wandering when can majority of malaysian afford this car. Everybody knows the answer….

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  • n0oB (Member) on May 05, 2007 at 2:38 am

    Relative affordability?? yeah..right

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  • maibatsu_thunder (Member) on May 05, 2007 at 4:25 am

    Even Bob Marley had a 2002! The 2002 Turbo is an icon of the motoring world. Hope this one at least equals that.

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  • mystvearn (Member) on May 05, 2007 at 4:34 am

    The car still looks as ugly as ever.

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  • kei9 (Member) on May 05, 2007 at 5:27 am

    ugh! i cant stand those bumpers! its ugly as hell! like a drooping skin!

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  • kei9 (Member) on May 05, 2007 at 5:29 am

    looks like somebody try to put multiple new BMw body parts on an old BMW!

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  • ab (Member) on May 05, 2007 at 6:22 am

    looks a bit like the the classic E30 M3

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  • aesthari (Member) on May 05, 2007 at 6:55 am

    M1 or not, in Malaysia, you still have to be pretty rich to afford one.

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  • joe203 (Member) on May 05, 2007 at 8:02 am

    I like the front. hate the back.

    Either way, I would love to have one. RM190K anyone?

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  • silverfish (Member) on May 05, 2007 at 8:09 am

    I know that's photoshopped and all, but that is about as hideous as current BMW designs can get.

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  • hfrshah (Member) on May 05, 2007 at 10:14 am

    it's highly doubtful that it'll be called the M1, coz there was already an M1 before, a 2 door one-off car that started all these M-cars galore way back in the late 70's. it was a limited production car that was meant to show off their sporting capabilities, a mid-engined wonder (the only mid-engined BMW until now). it had a 3.5 liter straight six engine that was later used in the first gen-M5, the E28 M5.

    as for the price, i'd guess it'll be around the low-ish RM400k mark, considering even the mainstream 130i is already RM340k (assuming that they will bring it here in the first place la.. sigh)..

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  • dawgHause (Member) on May 05, 2007 at 11:42 am

    please please please BMW for the love God. don't name it the M1.

    the original M1 was a beautiful mid-engined sports car that sparked off the whole M-division of BMW. styled by Giugiaro, developed by lamborghini. and considered one of the most beautiful cars in the world. Seen on in real life, absolutely stunning.

    BMW's projected M1 is a fugly front engined mongrel, that will kill off the M-division. Styled by an idiot and developed by marketing execs. And will be considered on of the most vomit inducing looking cars in the world. If it will be seen in real life. Shoot yourself.

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  • mits27 (Member) on May 05, 2007 at 12:47 pm

    M1, interesting…

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  • Mayonaise (Member) on May 05, 2007 at 5:43 pm

    What a fcuking ugly car… YUCK!!

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  • tokmoh (Member) on May 05, 2007 at 7:22 pm

    We hv a new winner for the world's ugliest car. Proton must b happy they've been de-throned from this award.

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  • layman (Member) on May 05, 2007 at 8:41 pm

    BMW frustrates its competitors time and time again.

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  • hfrshah (Member) on May 05, 2007 at 10:53 pm

    don't la simply bomb BMW like that.. LOL, one of the rare times that's ever gonna happen here.

    these pics are just artist impressions anyway, doesn't show how the actual car is going to look like.

    first of all, it doesn't even have the M-division's trademark 4 tailpipes.. blasphemy! and the rear rims are considerably smaller than the front ones (they're actually smaller in these pictures, not like on the 5-series, where they only appear to look smaller, due to it's too-complex wheel arches. in reality they're the same size).

    fine enough, the 1-series isn't exactly a perfect car to "M-ify" mainly coz of it's peculiar styling. but then again remember the first M Coupe (the one based on the fugly Z3)? it was fugly as hell, styled to look like a van, but it went like stonkers, and received many praises from everywhere. in the same vein, quite a few people would say that the current M5's styling is a little feminine, but that doesn't seem to have affected it's sales one bit.

    how the M-division would handle the reportedly horrid ride of the 1-series is beyond me tho. the 130i with M sport suspensions have been criticised for it's hard, if not bone breaking ride. the full blown M car will obviously have a more extreme set of suspensions. i'll wait and see how much magic can the M-division sprinkle on the car this time =)

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  • cbljkkj (Member) on May 06, 2007 at 4:11 am

    The artist who drew up that M1 impression should be hung by a noose or shot or both.

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  • avanza (Member) on May 06, 2007 at 8:28 am

    This is one ugly car!

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  • hush (Member) on May 06, 2007 at 7:35 pm

    omg… such an ugly car… the front design doesnt suit the rear… the proportion of the car is somehow wrong… who will buy this ugly and drive on road?!?!?

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  • proton GL (Member) on May 06, 2007 at 10:03 pm

    -i dont like that 'sampan line below'

    -M3 mouth only applicable for M3

    -rear light with with white band at the botton ,,looks hyundai light cluster arrangement,

    other wise,

    itll bring back the classy essence of the old 2002 or early 3 series, which is great,

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  • silverfish (Member) on May 07, 2007 at 2:26 am

    hfrshah said,

    "don’t la simply bomb BMW like that.. LOL, one of the rare times that’s ever gonna happen here."

    ———————-

    There's more than enough BMW loving around here. More people should play Devil's Advocate, to even things out a little bit before it starts looking like a pro-BMW site (not that it isn't already).

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  • 4G63T DSM (Member) on May 07, 2007 at 3:51 pm

    I dont get it. While I like the idea of a small BMW with a big engine, I think BMW would do better just to keep the 1 series as is with the 130.

    Even the 130 had problem justifying itself againts its own Z4 stable mate where the price differential is jsut not there. Why would I spend just as much for a factory "modified" BMW "Econocar", than on proper sports Z4, when both has the same engine.

    If they do actually come out with this, I doubt they will name this the M1. That would be sacriligious, more likely it will be called the M2, following BMW's current convention of naming coupes with even numbers (4,6,8).

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  • jazz1011 (Member) on May 08, 2007 at 5:40 pm

    I've never liked the 1-Series but this so-called M1 2-door does look rather neat.

    Never thought I'd say this but I kinda like its design.

    Cheers!

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