Photo: Kolesa
While the hot hatch crowd awaits for BMW to pull the wraps off its next M135i, the Munich auto marque continues testing it. We've seen prototypes in the open for a while, partially revealing the evolutionary design beneath the thick vinyl stickers.
Expected to be a comprehensively updated variant of the current one and not an entirely new generation from the ground up, despite reportedly transitioning from the F40 to the F70 internal model code, the next BMW 1 Series has similar proportions. The only things that are different are the front and rear fascias, as it gets the same door handles. However, previous scoops have revealed a slightly different styling of the rear side windows.
What else would it need to justify the new code? Upgraded mechanicals, obviously. The front-wheel drive construction of the current one will carry over to its successor, albeit probably with a few tweaks. The 1.5-liter five-pot is expected to power the 116i variant of the compact hatch, perhaps joined by 2.0-liter gasoline and diesel mills, and likely a plug-in hybrid. The M135i will keep challenging the Audi S3 Sportback and Mercedes-AMG A 35 with a four-pot whose output and torque remain unconfirmed.
The current M135i has 302 hp (306 ps/225 kW) and 332 lb-ft (450 Nm) of torque available via the right pedal. The front-biased all-wheel-drive model takes under five seconds to sprint to 62 mph (100 kph) and tops out at 155 mph (250 kph). It is likely that it will remain the range-topping model of the range unless BMW decides to resurrect the 1M moniker last used on the predecessor of the two-door 2 Series. What makes us say that? The fact that the M135i has two tailpipes, and we've seen prototypes testing with four. That might not mean anything, and it probably doesn't, but what if it does?
While the wraps are understood to come off the next 1er sometime next year, they were already peeled off a few times using photo editing. The latest renderings of the car revolve around the M135i, and they have Kolesa behind them. Therefore, they're on the realistic side, sporting two instead of four tailpipes like the testers mentioned above. Chances are the front-biased all-wheel-drive hot hatch will look a lot like this once it premieres, maybe towards the end of next year, unless the German car marque decides to unveil it at the same time as the regular 1 Series.
So, what do you think? Is BMW planning a new 1M to take a swing at the Mercedes-AMG A 45 and Audi RS 3 Sportback for a change? We certainly hope so, as the world needs more performance-focused cars that don't have a tall ground clearance.
What else would it need to justify the new code? Upgraded mechanicals, obviously. The front-wheel drive construction of the current one will carry over to its successor, albeit probably with a few tweaks. The 1.5-liter five-pot is expected to power the 116i variant of the compact hatch, perhaps joined by 2.0-liter gasoline and diesel mills, and likely a plug-in hybrid. The M135i will keep challenging the Audi S3 Sportback and Mercedes-AMG A 35 with a four-pot whose output and torque remain unconfirmed.
The current M135i has 302 hp (306 ps/225 kW) and 332 lb-ft (450 Nm) of torque available via the right pedal. The front-biased all-wheel-drive model takes under five seconds to sprint to 62 mph (100 kph) and tops out at 155 mph (250 kph). It is likely that it will remain the range-topping model of the range unless BMW decides to resurrect the 1M moniker last used on the predecessor of the two-door 2 Series. What makes us say that? The fact that the M135i has two tailpipes, and we've seen prototypes testing with four. That might not mean anything, and it probably doesn't, but what if it does?
While the wraps are understood to come off the next 1er sometime next year, they were already peeled off a few times using photo editing. The latest renderings of the car revolve around the M135i, and they have Kolesa behind them. Therefore, they're on the realistic side, sporting two instead of four tailpipes like the testers mentioned above. Chances are the front-biased all-wheel-drive hot hatch will look a lot like this once it premieres, maybe towards the end of next year, unless the German car marque decides to unveil it at the same time as the regular 1 Series.
So, what do you think? Is BMW planning a new 1M to take a swing at the Mercedes-AMG A 45 and Audi RS 3 Sportback for a change? We certainly hope so, as the world needs more performance-focused cars that don't have a tall ground clearance.
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