BMW's 1 Series Coupé hasn't been a runaway success in Ireland. Our theory is that status-conscious buyers would rather have a lesser version of the 3 Series Coupé. However, now it's cool to be frugal, we wonder whether buyers will shun the BMW M3 for its new baby brother, the 1 Series M Coupé. CompleteCar.ie had a drive in a pre-production version of the new 'M1'.

In the Metal

As you can see, the car remains under mild camouflage (until December apparently). That can't hide the chunky stance though. It's defined by the width of the track, which is a full 80mm wider than the 135i's. This is determined by the rear axle, which is lifted wholesale from the BMW M3. Rims of 19-inch in diameter will be standard too so squint at the pictures and you're essentially seeing how the new car will look. Quad exhausts and a tiny lip spoiler on the rear boot lid have been confirmed for production. It's going to be a real eye-catcher.

The interior of the pre-production car we drove was far from finished, though it will feature bespoke light grey instruments, as well as bucket seats.

What you get for your Money

This is anyone's guess really, as the price for the 1 Series M Coupé won't be announced until the end of 2010. We expect a figure of about €70,000. A six-speed manual gearbox will be the only transmission option and the only wheels offered will be 19-inch in diameter. Oh, and we can dispel a few rumours: this is not a limited production model and yes, it will also be sold in the United States.

Driving it

While the 1 M sounds much like the 135i at idle (perhaps a little louder), as soon as you first turn the steering wheel it feels quite different. It's noticeably wider while negotiating tight parking spots, but that matters little when you hit the open road. Then it gets really interesting.

In essence, the 1 Series M Coupé takes the best bits from the Z4 sDrive35is, the M3 and the 1 Series Coupé. The straight-six, twin-turbocharged engine is based on that in the Z4, and though the final homologated figures have yet to be released, we believe peak power is 340hp and torque is about 460Nm. That last figure is significantly more than the M3 has incidentally, and it's what defines the power delivery. It's creamy smooth and urgent from low revs, with a distinct rise in accelerative force as both turbos deliver their best in the mid-range. Our only minor criticism is that it runs out of steam towards the redline so it isn't a car you'll be hitting the rev limiter in regularly.

The six-speed manual gearbox is lifted from the M3, so it retains that car's slightly springy action, but is swift and slick enough. As mentioned, the rear axle, incorporating the M differential, is also borrowed from the M3. It doesn't look like any customisation of its setting will be available in the 1 M, but it's still effective. Our relatively short drive revealed instant turn-in and a playful rear end - though it moves about in a safe, predictable manner. In fact, the overriding impression of the car is one of unflappable stability. That's particularly true under braking and over mid-corner bumps. It features standard fixed damping and steel springs by the way, and adaptive damping will not be offered. Two different throttle maps and various stages of traction control will be the extent of driver customisation available.

Worth Noting

BMW brought along a brace of E30 M3s so we could compare the new 1 Series M Coupé to its granddaddy. Apparently the developers of the 1 M used it as inspiration. The idea is one of back to basics - or relatively at least. Hence the lack of as many driver customisation options as in the bigger M cars; no automatic gearbox option; one size of wheel; and one body style. The 1 Series M Coupé is about 85kg lighter than the M3 Coupé, which makes it around 1,500kg.

Summary

The 1 Series M Coupé is one of those cars that could have been a big disappointment. After all, it's difficult not to get excited about a new M car, especially one that supposedly takes its brief from the very first M3. First impressions suggest that buyers are in for a treat. Whether the few Irish buyers in the market for a €70,000 sports coupé will choose the baby BMW over Porsche or Audi remains to be seen.