BMW 1 Series M Coupe: Official

BMW 1 Series M Coupe Official

The BMW 1 Series M Coupe is finally official. 335bhp, 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds and £40k, it debuts at the Detroit Motor Show and goes on sale May 2011.

The tease for the BMW 1 Series M Coupe really ended yesterday when we brought you the final part of BMW’s interminable tease to reveal the clumsily-named M car for the 1-Series. But yesterday was only a final tease, not the official reveal. That we get today with official specs and a chunk of photos of BMWs new hot 1-Series.

As expected, the 1-Series M Coupe uses the twin-turbo six-pot N54 lump from the Z4 sdrive35is, which has saved a few bob on the usual M trick of a bespoke engine. In the M Coupe the engine produces 335bhp and 332lb/ft of torque delivered through a six-speed manual box – just as in the Z4.

Despite the M Coupe getting two cylinders and 79bhp less than the M3, it sprints to 62mph in just 0.1 seconds less than its big brother – 4.9 seconds.

Under the skin the 1 Series M Coupe has undergone a fair bit of tweaking from the 135i, with wider track front and rear, lower ride height (by 20mm), beefier brakes nicked from the M3 and an M-Diff. Cosmetically the M Coupe gets bigger wheel arches, new front bumper, air ducts in the front wings, new side sills, new back bumper and a bootlid spoiler.

The BMW 1 Series M Coupe will make its official debut at the Detroit Motor Show in January and the first customer cars arrive in the UK in May 2011. There’s not much choice on the paint job front with just black, white and the launch colour – Valenceia Orange – on offer.

Standard equipment includes 19″ Y-Spoke alloy wheels, two-zone AirCon, Cruise, BMW Radio Business with MP3-capable CD player and six speakers. It also has a Boston leather interior with Alcantara trim with Kyalami orange stitching in the cabin. Optional extras include Comfort Access, Harman Kardon Surround Sound System, Professional Navigation system with hard drive storage, Adaptive Headlights and High beam Assistant.

At £39,990 the BMW 1 Series M Coupe is £12k less than the M3. But £40k is still a lot of money for a 1 Series, and with the 135i M Sport just 0.3 seconds slower to 60mph and £10k less it does seem a lot of extra money for an M badge.

Not that that will stop it flying out of showrooms.