BMW 1M: Rear-drive hooligan

BMW's 1-Series M Coupe. Photo / Supplied

The smallest BMW M-car to date doesn't rely on stupid amounts of power and a massive engine to succeed, but on a flexible chassis and a power-to-weight equation that could see this car trounce the M3 over a tight track or tricky set of bends.

What's new
The 1M fields 1470kg to the M3's 1800kg, and a 3.0-litre straight six engine with twin equal-size exhaust turbos that produces 250kW and 450Nm of torque, or 500Nm at full throttle, sent to the rear wheels all the way from 1500 to 4500rpm.

That's a spread so wide that at Hampton Downs we could leave it in third or fourth of the six cogs for most of our fast laps, controlling it on the throttle and relying on this car's communicative chassis and instant response.

The 1M uses chassis components from the M3 with a double joint front axle and five link rear plus a variable M diff lock on the rear axle, and a high performance brake system.

Flared wheel arches emphasise the broader track - the car is 55mm wider than a 135i coupe - with a redesigned front apron and large air inlets, four tailpipes and chrome gills. The cabin is changed little from the standard car.

The company line
BMW's keen to underline the 1M's sporting focus and the brand's sporting heritage, hence the 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL racer parked beside it at Hampton Downs.

What we say
The 1M's relatively subtle looks mirror BMW's restrained approach. It avoided suspension trickery; bar the M-button to sharpen engine response and the ability to pin back the stability control. What you see is what you get; a simple approach that suits real world applications where fiddling with diffs is a tad OTT.

On the road
At the Hampton Downs track we tapped the M button, knocked back the stability control to let the back step out slightly and let her rip.
And boy, when the turbos spool up the power arrives with a massive punch, more suddenly than in a naturally aspirated car so you need good driving technique and delicate throttle control to keep the car steady through bends.

Fortunately it's sublimely responsive to your right foot; twitching that pedal round the hairpin with its brief off-camber drop tells you a lot about this car and its controllability.

Yet slap the accelerator down and it's as unsubtle as anyone could wish, bar a soundtrack less raucous than expected. However, I loved the sub-base throaty growl this engine emits on song that tells you this is no ordinary car.

This 1M's ride-handling compromise is particularly impressive. Yes it's a sports-focused set-up, yet bump compliance felt remarkably elastic in a way few performance cars can mange. I look forward to driving it in the real world and seeing just how well it translates.

Why you'll buy one
It's a rear-drive BMW hooligan for $109,000 when the M3 costs $173,700.

Why you won't
NZ's allocation of 14 sells before you make a decision.