So you think that 720 HP and 922 Nm (680 lb-ft) of torque on the rear wheels is a good idea? It could be but only if you really know what you’re doing and you’re using them on a proper circuit alone, like you’re about to see.
In case you didn’t already know, Tuningwerk did such a car, based on the smallest Coupe BMW made in the last decade, the 1M. That little car got some serious upgrades and is now probably one of the fastest rides ever to reach the Nurburgring. That’s when driven properly, of course.
So, what are we looking at here, then? Well, the car is using the same N54 bi-turbo engine as the stock version but that’s about where the similarities end. The 3-liter 6-cylinder block got different turbos, made by Tuningwerk in house alongside a new intake, new intercooler, racing oil cooler, bigger oil and fuel pump, new injectors, pistons, connecting rods, crankshaft, camshaft and revised cylinder heads and valves.
Even the oil pan and ignition were changed not to mention that the transmission and differential had to be reinforced to cope with the ludicrous amount of power going through them from under the bonnet.
Of course, a full cage was also needed, to make sure that the driver and passenger are safe and thanks to extensive carbon fibre usage the car’s weight was reduced to just 1,280 kg (2,822 lbs). To get an idea of just how much carbon fibre was used, think of it this way: the roof, door panels, boot lid and bonnet were all done from the precious, lightweight material.
Those were all parts manufactured by Tuningwerk, in-house. However, the 1M also received parts from other manufacturers like Recaro racing seats, 18” BBS wheels, Michelin slicks and a high-performance Brembo braking system with 6 pistons up front and 4 round the back.
With these new parts, the monstrous BMW (if it can still be called a BMW) is capable of incredible numbers: 0-100 km/h (62 mph) comes in 2.7 seconds and doubling that speed will take just 5.2 seconds more.
All of this sounds enticing when written down but the true story lies in what you feel when you’re inside it, on the track. That’s when you really understand how crazy such a car is. Unfortunately, we can’t get you all inside one to see how it is for yourself, but you can get a pretty good idea from the video below. The price for all these parts is €65,000 ($88,300).
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