Detroit motor show 2011 - BMW 1 Series M Coupe

BMW 1 Series M Coupe isn’t the fast-sounding car name, but don’t let that fool you – this is the fastest and most extreme series production 1 Series yet, and it’s stopping Detroit show visitors in their tracks.

It lives up to its ‘baby M3’ tag well, its 335bhp twin-turbocharged V6 shoving it from
0-62mph just 0.1sec slower than its bigger, iconic brother, in 4.9sec. It even has an overboost function, pushing torque from 332lb ft to 369lb ft for short bursts of acceleration, and the same brake discs as the M3 for eye-popping stopping power.

In terms of styling, the car is wider than the standard 1 Series and sits lower, improving the handling and giving it a meaner stance, thanks in no small part to the flared wheelarches and large central air intake.

The estimated price of all this performance is £38,000 – or around one-third less than an M3.

It’s available to buy in the UK from this spring, and you can have any colour you want, as long as it is black, white or orange.