BMW M1. Hot hatchback
The BMW M1 is a sports version of the BMW 1 Series, a compact urban C-Class hatchback produced by BMW (Germany). The history of the M1 is inextricably linked with the BMW 1 Series. Because the first generation BMW 1 Series coupe served as a basis for the development of the sports version of the M1 in 2010. Currently, Israeli buyers can buy a modern 2019 BMW M1 5-door sports hatchback. The letter ‘M’ in the name of the company M GmbH has always indicated that the models belong to a narrow range of real sports cars. Modern representatives of the M series continue to strengthen the prestige of the brand.
The BMW 1M, which is a sports version of the BMW 1 Series, should not be confused with the legendary BMW M1 sports car, whose history began in 1976, when the Bavarians launched the E26B project, developed by the famous designers Giorgetto Giugiaro and Paul Brask. The M1 was the first project of the BMW Motorsport division founded in 1972, which explains the presence of the figure of one and the letter M in the name. The result was an almost ideal sports car, accelerating to 100 km in 5.6 seconds, whose top speed of 264.7 km/h surpassed the speed of any German car in 1978.
Background
The first BMW M1 or, more precisely, the BMW 1 Series M Coupe, which appeared in 2010, was very different from its ‘parent’, the BMW 1 Series. The car was equipped with new brakes and differential, wider suspension track, 19-inch wheels, 3-liter 6-cylinder in-line twin turbo engine with 340 hp. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h occurred in 4.9 seconds. During test runs on the Nurburgring, the BMW 1M was 7 seconds faster than the BMW M3 (E46). In total, a little over 6.5 thousand of these cars were made in 2011-2012. A little later, in 2011, along with the second generation of the 1 Series, the rear or all-wheel drive BMW M140i was introduced. The ‘charged’ version of the BMW M140i featured a sports suspension and reinforced brakes.
New birth
The modern BMW M1, released in 2019 as a 5-door hatchback, has a striking and expressive design that perfectly reflects its sporty character. One of the ‘most charged’ modifications of the hot hatch, the M135i, is supplied to Israel. The all-wheel drive X-Drive in combination with innovative technical equipment provides excellent maneuverability and excellent acceleration dynamics. A 2-liter turbocharged engine coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission produces 306 hp at 5,000-6,250 rpm, while the torque is 459 Nm at 1,750-4,500 Nm. This allows the car to reach a speed of 250 km/h, with the acceleration to 100 km/h occurring in 4.8 seconds!
The new BMW M135i delights the eye with its well-defined body proportions and modern exterior design. Compared to the previous generation model, it was decided to reduce the length of the hood and increase the front overhang, which only made the hatchback better. And the interior of the new M1 has become noticeably more spacious. The quality of the finishing, the finishing materials used, and the ergonomics are at a very high level and fully correspond to the status of the BMW brand.
