Beemer In The Eye of The Beholder

A couple of days ago I regretfully concluded that the new BMW 1 Series M Coupé was, from what I could see in the last of the teaser videos, just slightly not quite as good looking as it maybe could have been. I followed this up by saying that I had my fingers crossed it grew on me before it lands on  UK shores next May (and in car reviews well before then.)

I have to say I didn't expect the 1M to grow on me this quick, since the full reveal 24 hours ago. Firstly, the stats make for mighty impressive reading. Although the baby M gives away 79bhp to its big M3 brother, the all-important power to weight ratios are remarkably close, due to the 1M weighing in at a relatively lean 1495kg. In isolation this is yet another overweight modern motor, being nearly 200kg heavier than the original E30, which BMW are touting as the 1M's 'spiritual predecessor' in the marketting bumph. However, it's still below the 1680kg E92 M3, often criticised for the numb and lazy nature of its handling compared to the E30 and E46, due in no small part to the greater mass and inertia. The 1M is also a not-insubstantial 80kg lighter than its identically powered nearest rival, Audi's new RS3, which also aports an identical asking price. Said cost? The £39,900 1M undercuts the crucial M3 by £13k. Considering the kerbweight and 78lb/ft of torque advantages of the turbo 1 make it just as accelerative as the V8 3, and that they'll both hit the 155mph limiter with ease, the 1M looks an attractive buy. As long as you can live without the carbon fibre roof. And the non-naturally aspirated niggle under the bonnet which flies in the face of so much of the M Division's heritage.

I mentioned 'attractive' so I'm going to delve into the contiontious and subjective styling issue again. Having pored over the official press release photos of the car, I have to say the front splitter isn't quite as ugly as I initially discredited it for, though like many modern BMWs, there's a strong catfish likeness going on; not sure if that's intentional design language, or even a good thing, but it's there. I maintain the front is the least successful aspect; the lights look a bit gawky from some angles and the whole snout is a pretty punchy, but then if it had been more conservative, I, like most people, would have been quick to bemoan it for looking generic and too standard. Otherwise, the blistered arches, cambered phat tyres and stumpy tail with M Division 'pipes does look very good. The devil's really in the details, like the streamlined door mirrors and rear arch slash vents. It's also only going to be available in black, white and orange. While the tangoed look works in the press shots, I reckon that black will work to soften the blows of the aggressive styling, while white my well be the hue of choice, since it looks so blindingly good on the E92.

The comments I've read about the 1M over the last day or so suggest this is going to be a really divisive car, in terms of its styling, powertrain, weight, driving experience, and the styling all over again. One thing to consider though is that the E92 M3 took a lot of stick when it was let loose for being too remote and civilised, like a muscle car-meets grand tourer hybrid, not an Ultimate Driving Machine. It was also criticised for eschewing traditionally subtle M car exterior styling, and being too fussy. One (nameless) magazine labelled it, the new generation of the best loved sporting special for a quarter of a century, a 'chav chariot.' Yet now, if you see them on the road, with a deep V8 burble coursing out of their quad exhausts, it does look good. It's settled down with time, comes across less aftermarket, less like Hamaan or Mansory have bodykitted it; in white especially, for my money it's one of the best looking cars in the 'real world.'

So if, like me, you've been quick to write off the 1M Coupé on face value, just give it a while, you might see the light if you try hard enough. Whichever side of the fence you end up on though, you'll be in very good company.