A bit more news on the 1 Series-based M car, which has now been confirmed for release in the second quarter of next year. Dr Kay Seglar, head of BMW M GmbH, has also ruled out the M1 badge for this model. This will please the purists wanting to protect the history of BMW’s 1970s M1 supercar.
Which leads to the question of what will this entry level M rocket be called? The best guess now seems to favour a 135i M badge, but other possibilities include 1 M, 135 M and 135tii.
[Source: auto-news.de via BimmerFile]
9 replies on “Baby M confirmed for 2nd quarter 2011”
In the 70s I had a Kawasaki 400 2 stroke motorcycle. The only cars that kept up with me off the lights ere a Ford GT (that did NOT sound stock) and a BMW 2002 tii.
Bring back the tii!
At least its being released, another option for us Aussies.
Eh? Because BMW “wishes to protect the history of the M1”.
From a company that put M badges onto enormous 4WD’s
They were my words, not BMW’s – but I get your point. 😛
Nice flared arches…..
M135is? Logical given the Z4 version is called 35is.
The European, drive the X5/6M before criticising it. I drove the X5M at Philip Island last week, and it really doesn’t put the M badge to shame! It’s the M of 4WD, easily.
better get my order in. I’m suggesting 135iM!! you can’t have an is and M together Wayne heheh don’t forget they have a 335is in the states now so will want to keep that model lien separate as a bridge.
Wayne, hand off it, his point was more the that they are obviously worried about how it will “ruin the history” of the brand so to speak
BMW M was initially created to facilitate BMW’s racing program and they subsequently sold “almost” racing cars as a result for the purposes of homologation.. not putting huge engines and stiffening the suspension in trucks and barges as they currently do.
Good car/bad car or how it drives it doesnt really matter, its not really an M and i think them worrying about history now, is a little late, just call it the M1 and stop confusing people.
The original M1 is half Lambo anyways.
John your Kawasaki 400 2 stroke must have not been too fast for a puss box like a GT or tii of the 70’s to stay with it.
Let’s say hello to 2010 where a BMW S 1000 RR ($22,000 ride away) will run a 9.7 second 1/4 mile and under 3 seconds (2.7) to be exact to 100 k’s all day long off the factory floor. Ofcourse you need to be able to ride. Kinda makes just about every car other than a Veyron seem extremely slowwwwwww!!!