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BMW 1-series M Coupe

A squat, small car with a lusty straight six feeding lashings of power through a manual gearbox to the rear wheels is the kind of pure, simple formula that’s catnip to anyone who likes driving and pretty much guarantees entry to Car Of The Year. Unless of course the people behind it have totally botched the execution. Thankfully, BMW hasn’t and when we tested the 1M against its main rivals (evo 158) we were wowed not just by its grunt, its grip and by its distinctly drift-tastic handling balance but by what Richard Meaden called ‘its unique character and up-for-it attitude’.

It may have turbos, stability control and an M Diff, but the 1-series is at heart a simple car and all the better for it.

© 2012 Dennis Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.
Licensed by Felden