BMW to unleash 350bhp "M1"

  • Thread starter Thread starter Leonidae@MFT
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And on that Off-topic note:

The Needell-Plato challenges are a bit better as a gauge of the car's abilities than separate laps done by separate drivers on separate days... but they're not as good as laps done by the same driver on the same day... and they're more show laps than actual track attacks.

Neither of the laps were clean. Both cars were driven at over the edge of adhesion in parts. Such driving would play into the hands of the 135i, which seems more stable sliding, as it has more understeer dialled in than the Cayman and has less weight over the rear axle (notice how the rear end of the Cayman bobs around in the slide... oversteer antics are not a mid-engined car's forte).

It wasn't a definitive test of the best lap-time. It was fun to watch (because of the way they drove) but it merely highlights how much easier it would be for a regular joe to extract a lap from the less edgy 135i. (not that Tiff or Jason is a regular joe).

On most tracks, the 135i is one or two seconds slower than the Cayman. An M version would need more than a tiny power ugrade to make up that difference. It would need a much better differential, an upgraded suspension, and at least 100-150 kilos less weight.
 
niky
And on that Off-topic note:

The Needell-Plato challenges are a bit better as a gauge of the car's abilities than separate laps done by separate drivers on separate days... but they're not as good as laps done by the same driver on the same day... and they're more show laps than actual track attacks.

Neither of the laps were clean. Both cars were driven at over the edge of adhesion in parts. Such driving would play into the hands of the 135i, which seems more stable sliding, as it has more understeer dialled in than the Cayman and has less weight over the rear axle (notice how the rear end of the Cayman bobs around in the slide... oversteer antics are not a mid-engined car's forte).
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Yea I was going to mention that earlier 👍 The test seemed a bit questionable, being that they were purposely throwing/sliding the cars around during footage of the timed lap...as if they were trying to entertain all of the clueless viewers...culminating in the: "OMG, the 135i beat the Cayman S" :lol:

On another note, it should also be noted that having two people in the car most likely has a greater affect on performance with the Cayman, being that it relies on being lighter (to make up for the lack of power)...while having moderately less torque than the 135i.

niky
It wasn't a definitive test of the best lap-time. It was fun to watch (because of the way they drove) but it merely highlights how much easier it would be for a regular joe to extract a lap from the less edgy 135i. (not that Tiff or Jason is a regular joe).
Click to expand...

Both cars are quite easy to drive. Bimmers have always been very easy to drive at the limit...but also is the new Cayman S despite being a MR layout. Porsche's (more so with the older 911's) have always been notorious for being very difficult to drive at the limit...but this is not the case with Cayman S, especially the latest model.

niky
On most tracks, the 135i is one or two seconds slower than the Cayman. An M version would need more than a tiny power ugrade to make up that difference. It would need a much better differential, an upgraded suspension, and at least 100-150 kilos less weight.
Click to expand...

No way would it need all that to make up the difference. Taking out 100-150 kilos (240-320lbs) alone would make a massive difference...enough to close the 1-2 second gap in typical lap times between the two. Even a bump by 50hp as suggested the M 135i will have, would be enough to close the gap on most higher speed/power tracks.
 
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I know virtually nothing about Porsche.. so excuse me if this is an ignorant question, but is the standard Cayman not ~250hp, and the Cayman S ~300hp?

I had it in mind that Fifth gear tested the Cayman (rather than the S)?
 
Base Caymen has 265bhp, Caymen S has 320, 135i has 306. 135i has more torqure... 400nm v 300 for the Caymen and 370 for the S.

Caymen is c.1,400kg, 135i is c.1,550kg.
 
That all makes sense now. Bump up the power by a few ponies, drop the weight by a decent amount and firm up the suspension and the 'M1' should be a pretty quick car.

But the new M3 runs an 8:05 on the 'Ring so BMW will have their work cut out for them bringing the 'M1' closer to the Cayman S without fighting the M3.
 
I wouldn't hold out much hope that an M version of the current gen 1-Series is going to be any lighter than a 135i.

No M car in history has actually been lighter than its mainstream counterpart. That includes the original E30 M3, which weighed more than the 4 cylinder 318i and about the same as the 6 cylinder 325i.

Given that BMW will need to hold the price of this car to under $50,000 USD (I'm going to go out on a limb and guess a base price of ~$48,000), I don't see them using a lot costly weight saving measures like carbon fiber, large amounts of aluminum or fancy composite body pieces/panels.

You can have performance, light weight or inexpensive. Pick two.

BMW will say they took measures to reduce weight (and they probably will), but it will probably still be slightly heavier than a 135i.

A 135i in base US trim weighs around 3,350 lbs.

A smidge heavier than a Nissan 370Z (~3,320).

Much heavier than an RX-8 (~3,050 --but then again--isn't everything?).

Lighter than a Genesis Coupe 3.8 (~3,480) and Mustang V6 (~3,400). Way lighter than a Camaro.

If they can hold the weight at around 3,450 ---same weight as an E46 M3 -- I think they'll be in good shape.

One thing we can hope for is a Club Sport, CSL or Lightweight version in addition to the "basic 'M1'". But in this economy, I doubt it would happen.


M
 
The S4 I bought was more interesting to drive than a 550i/6MT and more practical (plus a better daily driver) than an M3 Coupe. E60 M5s were more than I wanted to spend and too thirsty besides. Plus the car I found had some nice extras above and beyond your normal S4, so that sealed the deal. Besides, it was time for me to try something new anyway.


Back on topic: An "M1" Club Sport would be the bees' knees. M3 GTS at the top end; lightweight M-ifyed 1-series at the lower end. Time to recapture the spirit of the E36 M3 Lightweight.


M
 
This was all over Jalopnik today...

500x_bmw_m1__3_.jpg


500x_bmw_m1__2_.jpg


500x_bmw_m1.jpg
 
Ever heard of test mules and camouflage? As much as I wish that it would be a test mule of the supposed M1, I'm worried that it might actually be one of those pointless, slightly raised "cross-country" versions that seem to be popular.. At least from the point of European car manufacturers.
 
Slick Rick
Could you not tell before entering the thread it was the 1 series when he mentioned 350bhp
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He does not seem to understand this thing called humor...

He is yet young with the Force. He will learn... he will learn...
 
I doubt that's anything other than a 'M1' mule... the rear arches could be a mock up for a 'raised version' (though this is unlikely given the X1 is now on sale), but the huge, cross drilled rear discs have to be for a higher performance variant.

Plus the wheels look like the alloys off the last gen M3 CSL.
 
I found an interesting article in BMWBLOG.com about the Moniker... The name for the upcoming somewhat maybe a BMW M1??

So, here are the possible names to the car... Choose one ;)

///M135
///Mtii
///M345 (hp)
///M Turbo
///M we called it the one series and now we have no names left (that one’s kind of long)
1tii
///M1tii
///Mdrive
///M1i
///M1t
///M135i
135///M
///M16t (1 series, inline 6, turbo)

Please add some if you think it's not available in here...

[Source= [URL="http://www.bmwblog.com/2010/01/19/a-controversial-moniker/"]BMWBLOG.com[/URL]]
 
Well if I'm not mistaken, the BMW 320si have a lot of M goodies such as the M Suspension, body kits and interior. But the fact that the engine was hand built, in the United Kingdom in the same BMW engine plant that also builds the engines for the BMW-Sauber Formula One program. The WTCC Version is even more powerful and was built xompletely by BMW Motorsport... So I think this, the M1 should not be called a 135si because the ''si'' is very, very special.

More info of the BMW 320si here.

EDIT: The 320si is also a limited car. Unlike an M3 or an M5 which is a normal production car. In this case, the upcoming M1 or whatever is not a limited car instead, like the M3, M5 and the M6. Personally, I have no problem calling it an M1. But calling it an M2 is a bit of a mistake which common sense will tell you that this car was based on a 1 series and not a 2 series... My choises:-

///M1
///M135i
 
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You vill obey ze preussian discipline und follow zis mans orders.:dopey:

Hmm.. whatever engine is in it, I want it in the 1-series 3-door hatchback.. THEN I will love it.:sly:
 
I'd just want the 1-series Hatch here. I think I'd prefer the breadvan than the cute-coupe.
 
Europe has had the hatch the whole time and you're definitely better off with the coupe. It's significantly the better looking car. The only reason the US is interested in the hatch is because you're still not used to the things so they seem new and fresh. We've had them for years and they're boring as hell. Coupe for the win...
 
The hatch isn't all that. The rear is as bad as the Mini (might be worse... in the Mini, the cuteness makes up for the pain) and the flame surfacing doesn't really work on the five-door. At least the Coupe has the classic long bonnet short deck look that gives it some charisma.
 
I'd still take the three-door hatch instead of the coupe. IMHO, the coupe is just awkwardly proportioned.. bit like a fat lady in too small swimsuit.
 

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