Well this is a bit of a disappointment. After the brilliant BMW 1 Series M Coupe a lot of eyes had turned to the F20 M135i for comfort.

It didn’t disappoint. The small hatchback ran the ‘Ring at a very fast time and then it defeated a track day special Subaru around a circuit.

Apart from these great examples, there are lots and lots of reviews that are basically raves. Something did come up now however.

This is the point where some bad or unfortunate news had to appear. Thankfully, it’s just the first kind we’re dealing with.

One of the … addicts from the 1 Series forum, has identified a bit of foul play with the sound generated by the M135i.

Much like the M5’s Active Sound system, the M135i uses a sound symposer device to provide a different, throatier noise to the interior of the car.

Two videos were posted by the happy owner of such a wonderful machine and he discovered the noise he enjoys so much isn’t real.

Once the device is disconnected, the car’s audio system is disabled, which does kind of convince you not to do it anyway.

The other convincing moment is when you hear the noises in the second video. A very muted straight six cylinder engine is what you get with a few turbo noises here and there.

So what’s the verdict? It’s a shame BMW couldn’t pull it off technically, but we’re sure glad they thought about it long enough to make it happen anyway.

The noise is fake, but the car is brilliant so I for one don’t care, do you?

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Marcus M.

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The post F20 BMW M135i engine sound uncovered appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

BMW approved stuff, BMW officially released material and BMW insider news are all great. I have to say though, not as much fun as true fan created BMW related material.

One of the members at autoforumcz has a special video out for us, as they’ve taken the an F20 BMW M135i around the Nurburgring race track.

The man behind the wheel himself admits that the lap was lap was not the most tidy ever, but even in such conditions the lap time was respectable.

Considering it was on a day where the track was open and there was some traffic out there, that’s pretty good. Further increasing the amazement is the fact that the track was damp.

Still, the F20 M135i managed to get round in only eight minutes and five seconds. That’s the same time the E92 BMW M3 has on file.

Provided the driver is not a professional racing driver and that the conditions were less than ideal, the fact that this small hatchback managed this time demands a lot of respect.

As if the competition weren’t stressed out enough, that time is a mere second behind aggressive cars like the Audi R8’s V8 version and the Porsche Cayman S.

The latter has already been replaced but it wasn’t tested yet, so the previous time stands. Even if the new version of these cars beat it, I’d like to point out that it is a hatchback.

A mid-engined car hardly serves any other purpose than to go fast so they’re beaten either way.

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Marcus M.

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The post F20 BMW M135i hits the Nurburgring appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

The trip from Germany to France is usually quite fine on the motorway route. Munich to Paris is easily accessible.

Paris to St Moritz might be a little trickier. Particularly in a BMW with its sporty RWD that may raise your BPM on a twisty road with ice.

That’s where xDrive comes in. BMW’s brilliant all wheel drive system works great on the larger cars. Now though, it’s been introduced on the 1 Series as well.

The enhanced practicality, the improved usability and the option to drive this car all year round without any concerns about getting going in the morning.

A few details may be missing here and there as we’re not yet sure if all the powerplants available in the F20 1 Series will get the xDrive option.

What is for certain is that the M135i, the hottest version of the 1 Series will be getting it since the Paris Show stand had this car in particular on display.

Volkswagen’s Golf R32 was always a cheaper car but, thanks to its four wheel drive, always seemed like a more sensible way of getting the power down.

Now that the F20 1 Series has the M135i xDrive option in the lineup that appeal has simply disappeared. The VW car also comes with less power.

The inline six cylinder turbocharged powerplant in this car develops 320 horsepower and 332 lb-ft in the silkiest way possible.

Power is available from just over tick-over up to near the redline, making for yet another brilliant driver’s car.

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Marcus M.

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The post F20 BMW 1 Series comes to Paris with xDrive appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

With the introduction of the F20-like 1 Series three door, BMW have been much more liberal with the details on the hotter M135i version.

Things seem to be pretty straight forward. Ever since the concept tag expired and the first details showed up, surprises disappeared.

What has also disappeared is a major concern that had been brewing around the powerplant of the M135i, specifically its cylinder arrangement solution.

Enthusiasts will be happy to know we’re dealing with a 3.0 liter straight six engine, and this time it’s official. The TwinPower Turbo technology makes an appearance to so enthusiasts will likely not be completely pleased.

The performance levels may turn them around. The new BMW M135i develops 320 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. The latter is available all the way between 1.300 and 4.500 rpm.

http://youtu.be/b79-QJfcOUg

That means you’ll be able to hit the electronically limited top speed of 155 mph quite easily. You can however pick a way of getting there.

In six speed manual shape, you’re looking at 5.1 seconds but if you prefer to rest your left foot, the automatic gets you there in 4.9 seconds.

It’s probably worth while to mention the fact that BMW almost always underrated their engines and 0 to 62 times so the M135i is probably even faster than that.

There’s no denying it, the F20 BMW M135i may not be a proper M car or a successor to the 1M Coupe, but it’s one hell of a car.

It will certainly keep compact enthusiasts happy until BMW make another 1M (if they ever get round to doing that).

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Marcus M.

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The post F20 BMW M135i details officially available appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

The market for small sporty cars isn’t small these days. It may have been so about a decade ago but it’s definitely coming back.

Trouble is, quantity doesn’t necessarily bring you to success. The really capable DNA of a great sports car of diminutive sizes is something tricky to create in a lab.

Few companies can manage it and BMW is one of those who not only achieve it but somehow manage to improve the breed. That’s why we’re looking forward to the M135i.

It’s not a fully fledged M Division product. It doesn’t have the sportiest of shapes and it’s not BMW’s best design example either.

This isn’t going to hold us back. Right here, right now, I’m willing to stick my neck out for the way the hot Bavarian hatch will go round corners.

Apart from the sublime chassis, suspension and steering setup, the new details regarding the engine that’s going into the F20 M135i make feel pretty confident about another aspect.

The bits in between the corners are simply going to be devoured thanks to a 3.0 liter straight six cylinder twin-turbo engine.

There have been a few rumors about it being a V6 but it seems that’s not the case, it’s still a “proper” BMW engine and it will be chucking out some 320 horsepower.

Remarkably, that’s (marginally) less than what Mercedes and Audi put in their hot hatchback these days. It is a shame, but the overall package of the upcoming M135i seems like the winner will still be wearing a BMW badge.

Which is just the way we like it. Oh by the way, the M135i will actually come with an xDrive option this time round.

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Marcus M.

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The post F20 BMW M135i details start coming in appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

With the 1 Series M Coupe being sold out, BMW’s working hard to be able to give people a follow-up model or at least something that comes close to it.

That’ll be the F20 BMW M135i. We’ve seen it as a Concept and spied it completely naked already, so what’s the hold up?

Well, some Nurburgring testing of course. Which is exactly what the video after the break features. The M135i going at quite the pace around the Green Hell.

It seems like quite an unusual amount of camouflage is happening on the BMW M135i since we already know exactly what it looks like.

Either way, the speed at which the new 1 Series three door hatch is going around the circuit seems like there’s a lot of performance to deal with.

Maybe those M Performance parts can torture tires at a similar rate to what the M Division’s products can do the same.

Further more the rumors about the all wheel drive transmission seem to be more and more popular these days. The amount of grip displayed in the video seems to support the idea.

In terms of engine it’s certainly got the pace since most clues indicate towards a final output that’s upwards of 300 horsepower thanks to TwinTurbo technology and a 3.0 liter engine.

http://youtu.be/YkK4uBnZL0M

Still, as the car goes round its testing and developing in the normal fashion, we can’t help but wonder at how the rumors about cylinders being aligned in a V6 form post a bit of a concern.

Video via Car

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Marcus M.

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The post F20 BMW M135i spied at the Nurburgring appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

If you’re looking for a great compact sports car and didn’t make the cut (or cash) at ordering in one of BMW’s 1 Series M Coupe, there’s some good news in store for you.

The production version of the F20 BMW M135i Concept was recently spotted wearing absolutely no camouflage in your average car park.

It is painted in the Estoril Blue we’ve seen on the market release of the F10 BMW M5 and it has black alloys for a fully brutal effect.

This should mean that the Bavarians have the BMW M135i shaped up for production already and that its market release is really close.

Or it could just mean that BMW like messing around with us and this is all a very elaborate hoax. Don’t forget, April 1st is right around the corner.

Hoping it’s not the guys over at bimmertoday.de who spotted the undisguised BMW M135i didn’t spare it the extremely analyzing looks.

The body kit and the Shadow Line 18 inch light alloys from M performance were easy to identify from a distance so they didn’t stop there.

They’ve concluded that since the F20 M135i is boasting a familiar exhaust system, it’s almost certainly powered by the N55 engine.

As you know that means there’s a 3.0 liter straight six engine under the bonnet which will develop some 300-320 horsepower with plenty of torque thanks to the twin scroll turbocharger.

Hopefully, this spyshot moment means that we’re going to get to see more of the M135i from the Bavarians themselves.

After all, now that the cat’s out of the bag, what’s the point of hiding any more?

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Marcus M.

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The post BMW M135i spied completely undisguised appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

The F20 BMW M135i “Concept” has barely been out for a few days yet it already attracted the attention of the rumor makers.

These guys have managed to put together what sounds like an ideal kind of press release for the future of the 1 Series based concept.

From the top: rumor has it that the F20 BMW M135i hatchback concept will eventually enter production.

The Bavarians don’t plan to announce anything on the matter until they actually unveil the new concept properly during the Geneva Motor Show.

Despite this, there’s a very good chance of it happening since the concept title they’ve stuck on the M135i seems to be just for display purposes.

Where things get a little odd is in the rumors that tell us the F20 BMW M135i will put its performance to the ground via the company’s xDrive four wheel drive system.

We’re not the kind to make fun of the opposition but if you think the Audi RS3 has some sure-footed grunt, wait till this thing hits the market.

Finally, the rumor makers have one new idea that’s even based on some official reports.

Apparently, even though the F20 BMW M135i will feature an all wheel drive system and will likely be heavier than usual, it’s said to perform in pretty much the same way the 1 Series M Coupe does.

Now that’s quite the resume the BMW M135i Concept is building up. We’re aware that they’re rumors, but they’re not exactly unlikely so who knows what surprises Geneva holds.

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Marcus M.

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The post F20 BMW M135i rumor action heats up appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

BMW: Of course we know the Geneva Motor Show is coming up, it’s less than two weeks away.

Inverviewer: So what do you plan to showcase there that’s new? We already know the M6, we’re tired of the M5 and we’re pretty familiar with the M Performance stuff.

BMW: Well, what if we showed you a new car that’s in the pipeline but not admit to it being other than a concept?

And that ladies and gentlemen is how the Bavarians just decided to announce the F20 BMW M135i Concept. Essentially, this is what the fastest F20 BMW 1 Series hatchback will ever get but that’s not happening yet.

Right now we’re just looking at a mildly boring concept that’s powered by one of the company’s Twin-Turbo powerplants. Here’s where things become a little interesting.

We don’t know exactly what engine it is. We’re told it does develop “at least” 300 horsepower which would point towards the 3.0 liter straight six.

But since the Bavarians are going to make us wait until Geneva to find out, we can easily speculate that there’s a good chance at the 2.0 liter four pot being tuned up quite a bit.

There’s also a chance we could see a V6 that’s been rumored to make its appearance under the bonnet of BMW products or maybe even a rebirth of the intermediary 2.5 liter straight sixes.

As the branding would suggest, this particular concept doesn’t have too much to do with the M Division. Still, M Performance did sharpen up the suspension and brakes in order to create the F20 BMW M135i Concept.

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Marcus M.

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The post F20 BMW M135i Concept unveiled appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

The BMW 1 Series M Coupe is going to be produced in limited numbers and the recently arrived F20 1 Series lineup doesn’t have a replacement model ready for it yet.

Yet may be just the right term to use when mentioning it since those cheeky spy photographers have recently caught the follow up model of the 1 Series M135i.

It’s been rumored around for some time now and it’s definitely an eagerly awaited car but what really matters here is just what the recently spied model can lead up to.

As I’m sure some of you remember, the E81 1 Series also had one of these models brought along as a range topper, just before the 1 M Coupe came along.

We can only hope BMW will make a followup model to their most exciting car at the moment but meanwhile let’s grab a closer look at the M135i.

The engine is still the brilliant inline six cylinder 3.0 liter twin turbo we’ve seen in other models. Some 320-330 horsepower will be available and torque is roughly in the same margins.

Unlike the previous model, this one comes with a few different ideas. For starters, there’s word on more body styles available, which can always be fun.

Secondly, this 2013 BMW M135i has something of the xDrive all wheel drive system about it. What this means is that the Bavarians are really expanding availability of products on their small hatchback.

As for the spyshots, they pretty much speak for themselves and are finally of the rare variety that feature very little camouflage to cover up its specific details.

Source: Bimmertoday

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Marcus M.

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The post 2013 BMW F21 M135i spied appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.