If you’re around and about in the UK during the next few weeks, then you might possibly spot BMW’s 1 Series M Coupé on the roads near BMW’s Bracknell HQ. If not then stay tuned during the next few days for first glimpses of the undisguised new baby M-car, showing off its unique burnt orange paintwork regarding which Dr. Kay Segler, CEO of BMW M GmbH, stated last month “This paint will make history”.
The 1 Series M Coupé was in Paris yesterday, prior to its unveiling, and for the first time we can really see what Dr Segler was referring to with that paint colour (rumoured to be called Valencia Orange Metallic, according to bmwblog.com). With such a stunning paint colour, its 340+ bhp straight six turbocharged engine and agile handling, this is already one of the most eagerly anticipated M-cars of the past decade.
We’ll tweet further news on @DriversRepublic when we receive it.
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Valencia Orange Metallic VOM IT is a colour with potentially rather unfortunate intiials. Hopefully it is going to be a great car.
Haha! I hadn’t noticed that – go on, I dare someone to fit that number plate to their 1 Series M Coupe! From all that I hear the ISMC (to use its abbreviated initials) is a rather fine machine to drive. Test drives will begin next week, so we’ll soon find out.. 😉
I have seen that they will only build 2700 and most will go to USA, any word on that ? Hope there will be pleny as I like the sound of this car, E92 was a bit big and heavy and to use the power needed to close mind to worries about driving licence and finding my ageing dodgy back is not getting on too well climbing in and out of my Elise SC.
Also only 3 colours VOM, Black and White.
I’m expecting to receive full details on the 1M either later today or tomorrow, so I’ll let you know when we know.
I’d be surprised to find most going to the US, UK and Germany are almost as big markets for M-cars, in fact the last time I looked at the numbers UK+Germany was bigger than the US for M-cars. Also the 1M is very definitely the type of car that would sell hot in Europe, so BMW are unlikely to ignore that.
More details soon hopefully.. 😉
WANT!
Update on the BMW 1 Series M Coupe – no build limit set (yet) but production is only for a 8-9 month window. UK deliveries start end-May 2011 and colour choice will be the 3 already mentioned – VOM, black and white.
A press car will be here in the UK now during early December, but proper press drives will not happen until May, so if you’re interested in a car you’d better put your order in now rather than waiting for the reviews.
More news when I can get it.
From info on US websites it looks like it may well be basically a sawn off E92 chassis with a mildly tweaked version of the Z4 35is engine (350BHPish). Manual only with 3 colours. Available next Spring / early Summer. Full info December / January (launch probably Detroit). No carbon roof.
Very similar power to weight as E92. Sound interesting. Have place £500 refundable depost as with present interest rates not costing a lot and probably safer than the bank.
Keep the news coming on this one…… I was considering swapping my E93 M3 for a 135i but will probably wait to see how good a job they do on this…..