BMW M135i arrives at Geneva Motor Show

A new entry in BMW’s 1-Series lineup is this M135 model that has made its debut this month at the 82^nd edition of the Geneva Motor Show. The car is scheduled to rival the Audi RS3 and it is the first 3-door version of the second-gen 1-Series which will get the same lineup of 4-cylinder gasoline and diesel power units like its 5-door sibling.

Even though this isn’t really an M car, the BMW M135i borrows a lot of things from 2011’s M135i Coupe, especially since both cars have the same engine and transmission. We don’t have full details at the moment, but according to BMW insiders this 6-cylinder, 3.0-liter twin turbocharged engine is capable of developing somewhere around 320 hp and a maximum torque of 332 lb.-ft.

According to the British car magazine Autocar, the M135i hatchback will be offered as standard with a rear-wheel drive setup while for more money clients will be able to opt for four-wheel drive system, as opposed to the M135i Coupe that only has a four-wheel drive setup. Most likely, the car will be available only in a left-hand drive, just like other non-SUV xDrive models launched by BMW.

The M135i has a rumored curb weight of 1500kg and can offer a power-to-weight ratio of more than 220hp/ton in a RWD configuration, allowing the car to complete the 0-62 mph sprint in 4.9 seconds, the 0-124mph sprint in 17.3 seconds, on its way to an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

The BMW M135i comes with an updated suspension that brings wider tracks, a lower ride height and 18-inch alloys. In addition, the German automaker has also upgraded the brakes and it now has 360mm rotors at the front and 350mm rotors at the back of the car. We should also note the new bodykit that the car comes with, a bodykit that includes a new front bumper which adopts the regular M styling cues, bespoke mirror housings, LED imbued headlamps, a big rear bumper that has a black lower section and the twin tail pipes, along with wider sills under the doors.

Source: BMW via Autocar

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