What a great way to start a Monday morning. BMWBLOG spotted the first BMW 1 Series M Coupe in the United States. Painted in the what-could-become an iconic color, Valencia Orange, the 1M is being put through a long-term test drive and it was spotted somewhere near the Philadelphia area.

This is our first time seeing the car on the road and it has not disappointed us. The 1M looks massive, aggressive and certainly has the road dominating stature we expect from an M vehicle. Valencia Orange is also an interesting color and under the sunlight, it stands out even more, becoming an instant head turner.

During our short pursuit of the 1M, we had the opportunity to see some of its athletic abilities while the car chased away from us. Th acceleration certainly seems quick and the exhaust sound is much better than anticipated.

While we still miss and crave the naturally aspirated engines, the turbocharged six-cylinder delivers on will deliver on its promise and the roar coming from the engine bay is more than we expected.

As a side note, the 1M was sporting halogen lights, but the production vehicle will carry Xenons.

Enjoy these exclusive photos and excuse our ad-hoc photography skills.

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