BMW's Badger

1 Series M Coupe

     The New 1 Series M coupe is a fabulous looking vehicle. It is powered by a twin turbo inline six and has numbers which suggest spirited track times. This car is great because BMW performance has been put out of reach for many buyers and this gives the "average" driver a chance to own an M car. With pricing in the low to mid forties, it's not cheap yet it is a 340 horsepower six speed "pocket rocket" and this kind of performance is never cheap. Yet compare performance numbers and engine output, you will find this car to be a bargain. The engineers at BMW have been using a twin scroll turbo set up and this all but eliminates turbo lag. Translation, Power, lots and lots of sumptuous, continuous power. The staggered wheel set up, 245/35 19's on the front and 265/35 19's on the rear, make for superb handling characteristics and really make this car look mean coming down the road. Small and mean, like a badger. Quick, agile and vicious, with zero to sixty times well under five-seconds, this thing should be a heap of fun to drive. I also like the three and five door offerings of the 1 series. These configurations are more highly regarded in the european nations because they are much more utilitarian, read...…sensible, they like fun and utility. Practicality should, but not always is, a factor in car buying . If you are just looking for pure fun? This M car or perhaps the 128i convertible would be my suggestion. They look like fun just sitting still. FYI, don't confuse the Series 1 M with the M1 concept car, visually impossible but easily confused in writing.

M1 Concept

      Speaking of concept vehicles, the latest offering from BMW is simply amazing.
The i8 hybrid, it has a 3 liter six cylinder gas motor mated to an electric motor that produces a combined 349 horsepower and about 400 lb-ft of torque. A top speed well over 150-mph and zero to sixty times under 5 second are great. Magnificent when you consider the 78mpg this car also will provide. Ground breaking usage of carbon fiber in its design make this the car the one to look for in the future.
The Ultimate Driving Machine now sounds like the Ultimate Understatement. 

BMW I8 Hybrid