The first-generation
BMW 1 Series is a compact executive car produced by the
German automaker
BMW since 2004, when it replaced the
BMW 3 Series Compact range as the smallest and cheapest vehicle (depending on the engine model) in the BMW range.
As of May
2013, the 3-door and 5-door hatchbacks have been superseded by the
F20 and
F21 models, however the
E82 coupe and E88 convertible variants are still in production.
The 1 Series featured a rear-wheel drive chassis,
50:50[4] weight balance, longitudinally-mounted engine and aluminum multilink suspension. A range of straight-4 straight-6 petrol and diesel engines were used. It was produced in the following body styles: 3-door hatchback (model code
E81), 5-door hatchback (
E87), coupe (E82) and 2-door convertible (E88).
The 1 Series accounted for nearly one-fifth of the total sales in 2008.[5]
The
BMW 1 Series M Coupe ("1M Coupe") is a high-performance version of the BMW 1 Series Coupe, developed by BMW's motorsport branch
BMW M. While BMW naming convention would have called the car the "M1", the name "BMW 1 Series M" was used instead, to avoid confusion with the original
BMW M1.
BMW M boss Dr. Kay Segler officially announced the making of the M variant of the
BMW 1-Series Coupé on July 9,
2010, via an official
YouTube video and press release.[26] On
December 9, 2010, BMW officially announced all details of the car in the media.[27] The variant was marketed as a spiritual follow-up to the famous
E30 M3.
Prior to the 1M coupe, a bespoke engine (with a code starting with "S", for example
S14,
S50,
S65) was used for all BMW M models. However, the 1M Coupé uses a re-tuned version of the twin-turbocharged
N54 engine which is used in various other models such as the
2011 BMW 335is coupe/covertible, 2011
BMW Z4 sDrive35is, and 2011 BMW 740i
. In the 1M Coupe, the engine produces 340
PS (250 kW) at
5900 rpm and 332 lb·ft (450 N·m) torque from 1,
500 to 4,500 rpm (with +
369 lb·ft (500 N·m) overboost). The only available drivetrain is a six-speed manual gearbox with a limited slip differential.
The 1M coupe has a significantly wider track and bigger body than the standard E82 coupe, as well as a different body kit.
Despite the car's larger size, it is 77 lb (35 kg) lighter than the standard E82 coupe, giving it a weight of 3,296 lb (1,495 kg).[28]
BMW was originally going to release the 1M Coupé as a limited production model of 2,700 units. Then due to overwhelming demand, the company lifted the cap and produced a total of
6309 cars until production ended in June
2012.
Nevertheless, production of the 1M Coupé stopped in June 2012, with 740 units sold in the US and a further
220 sold in
Canada. Total 6309 cars sold worldwide.[29]
The 1M was featured on
Top Gear on 26 June 2011 and recorded a time of 1:25.0 around the
Top Gear test track.[30] The 1M was met in the media with enthusiastic reviews,
Jeremy Clarkson likening it, as a breakthrough model, to the original
Volkswagen Golf GTI.[31][32] It also received "
Richard Hammond's
Car of the Year 2011" award in
Top Gear magazine.[33]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_1_Series_(E87)
- published: 09 Sep 2014
- views: 884