2012 BMW one Series M Coupe – two thousand eleven Detroit Auto Demonstrate (w
2012 BMW one Series M Coupe — two thousand eleven Detroit Auto Display (w/movie)
After months of well-calculated taunting, the wraps have ultimately come off of the fresh two thousand twelve BMW one Series M Coupe. While the automaker determined against gracing its entry-level mode with an official “M1” designation — in deference to its original M1 Supercar — one look at the fresh M Coupe’s mechanical specs and aggressive styling tweaks leaves no doubt about the exceptional efforts the go-fast M-meisters expended in creating a relatively affordable spiritual successor to the pioneering BMW M3 model. In Detroit, BMW exposed that the two thousand twelve 1 Series M Coupe will open at $47,010 — which is $13,565 below the base price of the two thousand eleven BMW M3 Coupe.
Good things come in puny packages
Stashing under the spandex hood of the two thousand twelve BMW one Series M Coupe is a Trio.0-liter twin-turbocharged, direct-injected inline-six that makes three hundred thirty five horsepower at Five,900 rpm and three hundred thirty two lb-ft of torque from 1,500-4,500 rpm. However, a computer-controlled overboost function permits peak twist to hit three hundred sixty nine units under full-throttle acceleration. Backed by a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission that uses a dry-sump system for improved cooling, this free-revving six can send the one Series M Coupe from 0-60 mph in Four.7 seconds and on to an electronically limited top end of one hundred fifty five mph.
Like other M cars, the two thousand twelve BMW one Series M Coupe boasts M Drive, which sharpens throttle response at the touch of a steering-wheel mounted button. The car also is fitted with a variable M differential lock that can actively vector torque to the rear wheels from left to right as traction conditions dictate.
While sharing the same 104.7-inch wheelbase as a 135i Coupe, the M Coupe boasts enhanced front (+Two.8 inches) and rear (+1.8 inches) track dimensions. Marginally longer and taller, it’s also Two.1 inches broader and weighs seventy seven pounds less, a slim-down largely attributable to its steel-only top — no sunroof here — and more extensive use of aluminum in various chassis and structural elements. The car also wears 19-inch, staggered-width M-spec light-alloy cross-spoke wheels from the M3 Competition Package/GTS shod with 245/35 spectacle tires up front and 265/35 rubber at the rear.
In addition to a comprehensive M-grade retuning of its suspension settings and geometry to enhance precision and response, stopping power of the one Series M Coupe’s is fortified by the fitment of hefty anti-lock disc brakes, Beyond that, the M Coupe’s treating arsenal includes BMW’s Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with M Dynamic Mode (MDM) that can permit a higher level of driver-induced oversteer before it starts its intervention or totally disable the DSC function, also at the shove of a button.
Dressed to thrill
To decently complement to its stellar spectacle capabilities, BMW designers gave the one Series M Coupe an identically aggressive exterior treatment. Underneath the classic twin-kidney grille and standard Xenon Adaptive Headlamps with LED “eyebrow” accents, the M Coupe’s bolder front fascia features three large intakes that send air to the engine, as well as to the oil and supplemental coolant radiators. It also incorporates the very first use of a fresh drag-reducing aid that BMW calls “air curtains,” evidenced by subtle inlet slots that channel air into and out of the front wheelwells then past the tires in a way that significantly reduces turbulence. The car’s prominently flared front fenders carry the signature chrome M gill accents which also serve to anchor a character line that runs back to the Coupe-specific wide-body rear fenders. The revised rear fascia boasts its own “air-curtain-look” slots and a bespoke diffuser along with M-style twin-paired dual harass outlets plus a functional decklid spoiler lip.
While not blessed with a total M treatment, the well-appointed cabin of the two thousand twelve BMW one Series M Coupe does have a distinctive spectacle character highlighted by numerous driver-focused upgrades. M-specific white-on-gray analog gauges with crimson needles, a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, deeply-bolstered sport seats covered a Boston black leather with orange accent stitching and an aluminum driver footrest highlight the functional tweaks while glare-reducing black leather and Alcantara trim — also with orange contrast stitching — round out the look.