We’ll admit to having a bad infatuation with the new BMW M135i. We like it’s lines far better than the 1 Series M coupe’s, and it’s hatchback practicality appeals to us, too. It’s “off-limits” nature, at least in the United States, only makes it that much more alluring, since it’s human nature to want what you can’t have.
The M Performance hatchbacks will come to market with a 3.0-liter inline-six engine, good for 320 horsepower in European trim. Specific details on suspension tuning are lacking, although we wouldn’t be a bit surprised if the M Performance cars were just a bit softer than the actual BMW M cars. In other words, we’d expect a 1 Series M to spank the M135i around a racetrack, but the M135i would probably be more comfortable getting there and back.
Also, don’t forget that you can get discounted new car pricing with a free quote through qualified local dealer partners.
BMW promises that U.S. customers will get an M Performance 1 Series of our own, but we’d be shocked if it were anything other than a coupe. German automakers still mistakenly believe that “Americans don’t want hatchbacks,” which falls into the same line of reason as “Americans don’t buy diesels.” Build us a solid hatchback, with a stiff body structure, and we’ll buy them by the thousands. Build a quiet and trouble-free diesel engine, and price it reasonably, and we’ll snap that up, too.
Don’t take our word for it – just look at Volkswagen’s sales of hatchbacks and diesels.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
