BMW E82 1er M Coupe (Spy pics & Info)

[bmwownage]

so economics 101 would say that price increase -> lower demand. damn

 

[klier]

So the specs or price will not be what people expect?

Price: too high
Specs: too little options/too slow/too small/too heavy

(note: not for me, but for a few lazy fat cheap Americans/Europeans maybe)

 

[SCOTT27]

When a new car comes out specially in regard to serious interest it does diminish with this original group when full specifcation and of course final cost is taken into consideration.
But when the launch is complete , we normally see an increase of customers who were never part of this interest.
In the case of the 1M Coupe it's increase is in the region of 10,000 euro difference with the 135i Coupe.

 

[Dave1984]

^

Are you saying the 1M is actually just a pricey "135is" featuring rear M-diff, and special M exterior styling, and it won't please the hardcore M crowd?

 

[Centurion]

^

Are you saying the 1M is actually just a pricey "135is" featuring rear M-diff, and special M exterior styling, and it won't please the hardcore M crowd?

This is not the 1M you have been looking for.




Kidding aside the M1 we were picturing in our heads a few months ago would have 350hp pumped out by a naturally aspired engine. I was probably one of the first cynics who outed that performance would be capped in order to protect the M3. 335hp isn't that impressive and many potential customers will scratch their heads over whether to buy a 335i or an 1M. In fact, the 1M will most probably be more expensive once dealer mark-up has been added -- pushing the price to 50k give or take 1k. It will be a struggle between value versus novelty.

On the contrary the 335hp TT-RS is highly pricey but Audi isn't struggling to shift units from showroom floor to customers' garage. With that being said the 1M will sell but probably not to your average 1er buyer but to prospective M3, TT-RS and S5 customers.

 

[Osnabrueck]

^

Are you saying the 1M is actually just a pricey "135is" featuring rear M-diff, and special M exterior styling, and it won't please the hardcore M crowd?

That's a good way of putting it - but it also has a wider track, which is a pretty big deal if the sticker premium is in the $6-7k range.

It feels as though power output is a tough one go get around - We're used to proper M cars having at least 20% more horsepower than the regularly available top-trim models. This car is only widening the gap by about 10%.

But this is no surprise - We knew from the outset that the factory prospects for the M1C were limited with regard to output by virtue of the need to 'protect' the M3.

 

[Mr Robert]

That's a good way of putting it - but it also has a wider track, which is a pretty big deal if the sticker premium is in the $6-7k range.

Premium should be something like $11k (judging by the European €8k, ex tax, premium), but we all know it will not be.

Oh, why can't we get the good deals

 

[Betty Swollocks]

I'm not sure of the need to protect the M3. As much as the 1M may be a great drive, it doesn't really compete with the M3 in many other areas, such as space, interior quality etc.

 

[Human]

^
With a 10 month production span and an estimated 2700 to be produced the 1 M will not compete against the M3 (on the tech and spec side it cannot) for sales, they will all be spoken for as soon as the order books open IMO

I am also of opinion that the 1 M will have the same success as the Ford Focus RS, every example that came to SA (50) were spoken for before they arrived here. I also read that the RS was sold out in the UK pre-production...

 

[klier]

the gap by about 10%.

But this is no surprise - We knew from the outset that the factory prospects for the M1C were limited with regard to output by virtue of the need to 'protect' the M3.

The regular 135i is already as fast or faster than a 5 year old E46 M3.

In other words, the 1M will be plenty fast.

And they better start protecting the M3, because the 1M has potential to crush it. But they should protect the M3 by making it lighter and more powerful. Not protect it by making the 1M reach less of it's potential.

 

[Centurion]

I'm not sure of the need to protect the M3. As much as the 1M may be a great drive, it doesn't really compete with the M3 in many other areas, such as space, interior quality etc.

You don't primarily buy an M3 for interior space or interior quality. Pack the 1M with a 385hp engine, LSD and a set of tires to match and it will relegate the M3 to a clumsy grand tourer.

 

[SKY]

If they release a 335 hp 1M I will be terribly disapointed. A proper 1M need AT LEAST 350 hp, no matter if it ends up being faster than the M3, if that´s the problem then make the new M3 even better.

The car is shaping up really well, I hope they give it the power it deserves.

 

[Sunny]

Kidding aside the M1 we were picturing in our heads a few months ago would have 350hp pumped out by a naturally aspired engine. I was probably one of the first cynics who outed that performance would be capped in order to protect the M3. 335hp isn't that impressive and many potential customers will scratch their heads over whether to buy a 335i or an 1M

I don't think anyone (at least anyone reasonable) expected a NA engine. It was pretty well known for a long time it will have some variant of N54/N55. Only thing that was in question was how much M treatment would it receive - like new twin scroll turbos like in S63, but looks like engine will be N54 from Z4 35is with out any M treatmet which is a disappointment. But like I said, of all the things that they could compromise on, I am happy it is the engine and not the chassis. As for HP, N54 is so easily tuned, it is really immaterial.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

You don't primarily buy an M3 for interior space or interior quality.

Where did I say you do? But, now you've brought it up, the M3 is very much bought for it's practicality over many other similarly performing cars. The 911 being a prime example.

Anyway, I said the 1M doesn't compete with the M3 on interior space and quality. My point being there will be some people for whom the 1M will just not be an option, no matter how quick or how good a drive it is, therefore there is no need for BMW to "protect" the M3 by keeping the performance artificially low. Especially when the 1M is being built in such low numbers.

Pack the 1M with a 385hp engine, LSD and a set of tires to match and it will relegate the M3 to a clumsy grand tourer.

Far too much hyperbole here. Why would the M3 suddenly become a "clumsy grand tourer" just because the 1M is very quick? Doesn't make any sense.

 

[Beemer B773ER]

What expectations would there be for the next generation 1M Coupe if the current model was allowed to be an M3-beater in terms of performance and value for money?

Sounds fine and dandy to go all-out with this new 1M Coupe since it will be a limited-run, but the next generation version won't be. All those complaining about this upcoming 1M being 'restrained' to protect the golden-child M3 would then be complaining that the next gen' 1M Coupe is barely any improvement in horsepower or speed over the E82 1M Coupe.

 

[Centurion]

Where did I say you do? But, now you've brought it up, the M3 is very much bought for it's practicality over many other similarly performing cars. The 911 being a prime example.

Anyway, I said the 1M doesn't compete with the M3 on interior space and quality. My point being there will be some people for whom the 1M will just not be an option, no matter how quick or how good a drive it is, therefore there is no need for BMW to "protect" the M3 by keeping the performance artificially low. Especially when the 1M is being built in such low numbers.

Far too much hyperbole here. Why would the M3 suddenly become a "clumsy grand tourer" just because the 1M is very quick? Doesn't make any sense.

The excellence of a sports car is always relative to the offerings of rival car manufacturers, but more importantly a sports car is always judged against close alternatives within the same brand. Cars have been gaining size and weight with each generation for the past 20-30 years and the M3 is no exception. The E92 M3 is significantly larger than E30 M3 ancestor.

Although the M5 is a crucial halo car for M5, the M3 is the crown jewel. In terms of performance it's the most nimble racer in an very competitive package. Not only is it a strong performer but it has status. Status being the most agile two seater in BMW's portfolio. Layman's laws of physics is:

Smaller + lighter = more agile

The 1er coupe as a sports coupe has the advantage of being a smaller car than the M3 and if gifted with an engine outputting power not too far away from the V8 in the M3, then the 1M could most probably be the faster car and subsequently end the M3's reign as BMW's hallmark two seater car. This would kill the interest for quite a lot of people who would normally buy the M3 because it's the sportiest car BMW has to offer.

It's the same situation at Porsche which is always a brand with performance at it's core. They have openly admitted that the Cayman is a more capable sports car then what it was intended to be, and that it trumps the base Carrera around certain tracks. Just like the M3 brand, the 911 brand is worth too much for Porsche to offer a powerful Cayman that would render the 911 as the-not-so-best-sports-car-porsche-has-on-off. This is what positioning is all about.

You'd be surprise how much people care about status. Countless of people are forking over money to Nissan just because the GT-R has been victorious over the 911 in various tests and comparisons. Performance status has a major effect on what people buy. Isn't in unbelievable how Bugatti has no problems selling a €1 million car just because it's the worlds fastest car topping at speeds that no-one has any practical use for?

 

[Sunny]

^ That sound you just heard was Z4 M coupe taking a dump on all that wasted bandwidth. .

 

[rollo]

What expectations would there be for the next generation 1M Coupe if the current model was allowed to be an M3-beater in terms of performance and value for money?

Sounds fine and dandy to go all-out with this new 1M Coupe since it will be a limited-run, but the next generation version won't be. All those complaining about this upcoming 1M being 'restrained' to protect the golden-child M3 would then be complaining that the next gen' 1M Coupe is barely any improvement in horsepower or speed over the E82 1M Coupe.

This same debate is had with the Cayman, the mighty 911 needs to be "protected" from it's "lesser" stablemate. I really challenge this logic. A little more go than what is being reported for this 1M wouldn't hurt the current M3, and if it gets too close for some marketing folks, the next M3 will remedy the situation. Different cars, develop each to their fullest, no need to apply the breaks.

My $.02 anyway.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Although the M5 is a crucial halo car for M5, the M3 is the crown jewel. In terms of performance it's the most nimble racer in an very competitive package. Not only is it a strong performer but it has status. Status being the most agile two seater in BMW's portfolio.

Yet according to you, in just two months it will be a "clumsy grand tourer".

The 1er coupe as a sports coupe has the advantage of being a smaller car than the M3 and if gifted with an engine outputting power not too far away from the V8 in the M3, then the 1M could most probably be the faster car and subsequently end the M3's reign as BMW's hallmark two seater car. This would kill the interest for quite a lot of people who would normally buy the M3 because it's the sportiest car BMW has to offer.

With all due respect this is utter nonsense.

1M will not be an option for many people simply because of the interior space. What does it's performance have to do with anything?

You'd be surprise how much people care about status. Countless of people are forking over money to Nissan just because the GT-R has been victorious over the 911 in various tests and comparisons.

This is completely contradictary. Surely if people care about status they won't be buying a breathed on Datsun? The Porsche screams "status" more than the GTR.

 

[rollo]

The excellence of a sports car is always relative to the offerings of rival car manufacturers, but more importantly a sports car is always judged against close alternatives within the same brand. Cars have been gaining size and weight with each generation for the past 20-30 years and the M3 is no exception. The E92 M3 is significantly larger than E30 M3 ancestor.

Although the M5 is a crucial halo car for M5, the M3 is the crown jewel. In terms of performance it's the most nimble racer in an very competitive package. Not only is it a strong performer but it has status. Status being the most agile two seater in BMW's portfolio. Layman's laws of physics is:

Smaller + lighter = more agile

The 1er coupe as a sports coupe has the advantage of being a smaller car than the M3 and if gifted with an engine outputting power not too far away from the V8 in the M3, then the 1M could most probably be the faster car and subsequently end the M3's reign as BMW's hallmark two seater car. This would kill the interest for quite a lot of people who would normally buy the M3 because it's the sportiest car BMW has to offer.

It's the same situation at Porsche which is always a brand with performance at it's core. They have openly admitted that the Cayman is a more capable sports car then what it was intended to be, and that it trumps the base Carrera around certain tracks. Just like the M3 brand, the 911 brand is worth too much for Porsche to offer a powerful Cayman that would render the 911 as the-not-so-best-sports-car-porsche-has-on-off. This is what positioning is all about.

You'd be surprise how much people care about status. Countless of people are forking over money to Nissan just because the GT-R has been victorious over the 911 in various tests and comparisons. Performance status has a major effect on what people buy. Isn't in unbelievable how Bugatti has no problems selling a €1 million car just because it's the worlds fastest car topping at speeds that no-one has any practical use for?

Then take the 911 to a higher level of performance or position it for what it is, it will still be one of the most desirable sports cars on the planet, even if the Cayman is a sharper instrument.

And as much as I appreciate what Nissan has done with the GTR, 911 for me in a heartbeat. Like yourself, most that buy these types of cars respect and value the overall experience.

If the 1M nails it at the hp numbers being thrown around, excellent. But it will be a real shame if the accolades end with a disclaimer about how it's a bit underpowered.