BMW 130i M Sport - 4/5 an M1
BMW seems able to apply its formula of perfect weight distribution plus rear-wheel drive to virtually any automotive form to produce a world-class dance partner. The 1-Series is the smallest of BMWs and the latest to be slapped on the ass with an M badge, although this version would be more accurately described as M-lite.
The 130i M Sport is like four-fifths the car you would expect a proper M1 to be. GermanCarFans recently got to road test the four-door hatch, which drives off the lot thanks to BMW’s 3.0L inline six that produces a prodigious though not preposterous 265 hp. That’s enough to make an R32 think twice at a light, and rumors still persist about a proper M1 that could have a V8 shoehorned under the hood. Here's hoping the premium small car segment in North America becomes competitive enough for BMW to take notice by then.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Fred 9:11AM (12/28/2005)
The problem with the 130i is the power-to-weight ratio. The 130i weighs in at c. 1450 kilos, while the E90 330i weighs in at 1510. To the extent the 130i is much cheaper and features a convenient hatch in the tail, so much the better. But 60 kilos is hardly enough to turn a 330 into a shit-hot M3 beater -- the CSL being an example of how it does not work.
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Gary 9:31AM (12/28/2005)
I like it. People keep talking about how Americans don't like/want small premium cars and hatchbacks because the 318ti and C230 hatches failed. But those weren't proper hatches in the first place. I think the A3 and even to an extent the Mazda3 shows that Americans will buy good hatchbacks that are fun to drive and still useful. Hopefully BMW will see this and bring the 1 series over.
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heybushquitreadingmyemail 9:58AM (12/28/2005)
I would definitely buy this if it came to the US. Definitely.
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porcupine 10:18AM (12/28/2005)
this isn't relevant to the vehicle under discussion, but here is what a "proper m1" is: http://www.bmwm1.com
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Jin 11:05AM (12/28/2005)
130i M-Sport was beat around the Top Gear track by MkV R32 in the last episode (by a couple of seconds), and received thumbs down on all department against MkV R32.
With it costing £4K more, I wouldn't get one.
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Takeo 12:47PM (12/28/2005)
You want a real sport-compact RWD car? Maybe we can talk Toyota into modernizing the Hachi-Roku!
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HardwareGuy 1:07PM (12/28/2005)
#6 I would have echoed your sentiments a year or two ago, but it seems Toyota couldn't care less about automotive enthusiasts these days.
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Ken 4:36PM (12/28/2005)
Yeah, I would love to see Toyota do something like that. There are rumors that Lotus is working with Scion on something (Lotus has worked with Toyota before, it is no big deal) - I would hope it was for something special
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