For the first time ever, BMW is going to have its own front-wheel drive-based hot hatch — the BMW M135i xDrive. When that debuts, it will be the first time BMW properly competes with cars like the Volkswagen Golf R, Audi S3 and Mercedes-AMG A35. Admittedly, the previous-gen M140i did too but it was rear-wheel drive and always seemed to march to the beat of its own drum, rather than joining in with the others. Now, the BMW M135i will be BMW’s hottest hatchback. However, it might not be hot enough, as its rivals from Stuttgart have just raised the stakes with the Mercedes-AMG A45 S.
Because the team in Affalterbach is filled with wonderful psychopaths, they decided to give the little A-Class a power bump. So rather than messing around with 300-350 hp, like its competitors, the new Mercedes-AMG A45 S makes a whopping 416 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque from its 2.0 liter turbocharged engine. For the record, that’s more than the E92 BMW M3’s 414 hp, which it needed a 4.0 liter V8 to make. So this new AMG hatchback isn’t hot, it’s positively molten.
That fiery four-pot is paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox and powers all four wheels. AMG says it’s capable of getting the A45 S from 0-60 mph in just 3.9 seconds. That’s flipping fast for a hot hatch. Hell, I still remember when supercars had 0-60 mph times over four seconds and not four-cylinder hatchbacks are breaking that barrier.
When the Mercedes-AMG A45 S makes its debut, it will really only have one prime competitor, the Audi RS3 Sportback. So if both Mercedes-AMG and Audi have a proper hot hatch from their respective performance divisions, not just warm hatches from their regular lineup, will that force BMW M’s hand?
We’ve already been told that the BMW M Division will never make a front-wheel drive car. However, back when the first 8 Series was on sale, BMW M said it would never make an M8 because it was too heavy. Now we have M Division SUVs and an M8. So never say never, I guess.
If BMW were to make a proper M Division variant of the new 1 Series hatchback, the technical side of it would be the easy part. BMW can easily make a four-cylinder pack 400 hp. The hard part would be marketing the thing. BMW enthusiasts might struggle to cope with a front-drive M car, so sales would be in question. Then there’s the question of what to name it? BMW can’t call it the ‘M1’ because that’s the name of the legendary supercar from the ’70s and BMW has seemingly retired its number. It could be called the 1 Series M but that’s already been used before by a car that’s not become sort of an icon. So does BMW potentially tarnish that name by giving it to a new front-wheel drive-based hatchback?
So it’s a tricky thing. On one hand, the M Division likely doesn’t appreciate its two biggest competitors having excellent cars in a segment it could play in. But, at the same time, it’s not a car that would be a guaranteed hit among BMW M enthusiasts. So does BMW create something to take on its rivals from Stuttgart and Ingolstadt — the Mercedes-AMG A45 S and Audi RS3 — or does it just stay out of it?
Another ? NO One series got a proper M version Before…
The E82 1M Coupé was an M1 in all but name.
They have to make one and just call it the 1M not all M cars are bought by enthusiasts so a 1M will make sense to a lot off non enthusiastic people so yep it will be selling no matter what cause it’s a BMW
They should make if FWD with no manual transmission option. Just so brand loyalists will hate it.
& new customers will buy it.
OK I don’t comprehend anything in the article. Every car mentioned is all wheel drive not “front wheel drive”. A front wheel drive car is “just” front wheels not “all wheels”. The M135 is all wheels, the X2 M35 is all wheel with LSD even. Front wheel drive and front wheel drive based are not the same thing. Most Audi’s are front wheel drive based, new 2020 Mini JWC and Countryman JWC are “all wheel” drive. The Mercedes is “all wheel” drive, if you want to discuss “front wheel” drive discuss the Honda Civic Type R.
I state that the cars are “front-wheel drive-based” in the article. Any reference to front wheel drive is to the fact that, while they might be equipped with all-wheel drive options, they’re based on front-drive chassis.
No you are incorrect, you start off twice by saying the M division will never make a front wheel drive car you don’t say all wheel drive or front wheel drive based.
Where? Unless edited, I read fwd.-based. Since I believe BMW platform engineering is now either fwd. or rwd., he is right to stipulate. Since BMW have been making rwd.-based X M models for yrs., fwd.-based X M are to be expected.
It is like Audis. the best ones are AWD to overcome the terminal understeer inherent in FWD chassis architecture. They are still unbalanced corner plowers. One cannot overcome physics, only mitigate its effects.
This is mostly true. Most Audis use proper Quattro all-wheel drive, which can actually send much more power to the rear wheels then the front wheels. But some Audis use Haldex AWD (RS3, TT RS) just like BMW M135i and that can’t send more than 50-percent of power to the rear wheels. So even though it’s AWD, it cannot overcome that front bias.
With ARB. Or win rallies for half a century without it.
BMW porked the pooch when they introduced FWD into the BMW branded line.
There is no fixing stupid.
How many generations of Golf? Civic? When did Daimler go down market with fwd. 4 cyl. hatch? Now step back & let a century old German engineering firm beat them all @ their own game. Ever hear of Isetta? 700? 1500? 1800? 2000ti? 2002? 2002tii? 2002 Turbo? 320i? 318i? 318ti? 318is? MINI Cooper S? JCW? Motorrad? BMW have been doing small cars longer than you’ve been alive, typing or thinking. You’re right: no fixing stupid.
Oh, I forgot about the M Isetta. Was that in your wet dream?
All RWD. So my point is proved by you. So you are indeed the unfixable stooopid.
You didn’t say M, you said BMW branded line. M didn’t exist till the ’70’s, followed by awd. X & fwd. MINI, BMW brand has been fwd. since # least 2nd gen. X1.
Stay out of it BMW until the 1 Series regains its (rear wheel drive) mojo of the iconic one of a kind F20 series. The 140i for example. The F20 1 series was always a stand out in this segment.
The 1 series has lost it’s competitive advantage and a major pedigree USP and joined the ranks of the Golf, Mercedes Honda by becoming a me too.
The question that must be asked again is – If most people didn’t know what the drive wheels of their car are. Why did BMW move to front wheel drive? Also the rear space issue of the transmission and propshaft tunnel was not the major problem. The rear knee room was. Fixed by a marginal increase in the wheelbase. BMW product planning in this segment all over the place at present it seems.
It never was about more room in the first place.
Main reason is always cost cutting.
Since there were 2 generations of rwd. 1er (& the 1st, like original X1, was shrunk 3er), it was never “iconic one of a kind”, thus 1M, M2. Had rwd. been competitive advantage, like the 3er others would have followed, no one did. BMW are actually joining a competitive global market going fwd., how many gens. of Golf & Civic? Instead of “product planning in this segment all over the place”, try “full range manufacturer”. BMW, like Mercedes before them, are (belatedly) entering a hotly contested volume segment. Like they did decades ago when they went after Mercedes with original 7er, which by this century gave them sales lead. History repeats.
Logic difficult to follow.
“Had rwd. been competitive advantage, like the 3er others would have followed, no one did.” So for example in other words the Porsche 911 with evolving specific design and as the only rear engine rear wheel drive should ditch because competitors did not follow.The BMW F20 had a very specific cachet about it and was yes different to competitors. A model marketing equity which has been summarily dismissed – and could over time have been BMW’s rally car like the Audi Quattro, Peugeot 2 series and the Mini.
Problem with motor marketing today is that there is a sameness. – often dictated by technology. A blandness. A following of competitors – and the the slaves of volume and cost cutting.
The only reason really for the FWD move on the 1 Series is frankly cost cutting. BMW should admit this – Or their madness to ditch a C segment USP – the uniqueness the F20 1 series had.
Marketers spend millions try to find brand, model USP’s and build uniqueness to differentiate their offerings. The BMW F20 1 Series was one such product in an overcrowded market.
Porsche tried to replace 911 with 928 decades ago, gas crisis & market wouldn’t allow it. Patching it up with water cooling & electronic nannies doesn’t mean it’s not still a dinosaur, like Detroit still peddling their rwd. 1/2 century old pony cars. BMW will still offer rwd. Coupe, they have NEVER sold hatch. here, 1 reason global take rate for 135i was single digit. So no great loss in an overcrowded model range that is being culled for new BEV & ICE (buh bye 3 GT, MPVs). Uniqueness alone is not a selling point, those rally cars you mention all fwd.
Ok let’s see what future M2 gonna be: RWD or AWD…FWD 1 seres M is the question of time just because it’s the big peace of pie in market
It’s been assured to remain RWD if you missed the post.
I meant 1 series hatchback. Not M2 coupe.
1 Series and 2GC are on the UKL platform, so they are goners.
That’s going to be the next M2, i doubt they would come up with another 1M coupe XD
Rather keep the M2 for that
Read “front drive “ M car, stated multiple times. BMW will never make a “front wheel “ drive M car, maybe not but they will make an “all wheel “ drive M Sport, “all wheel” drive X1, X2 , X2 M35, X3M, M4M, X5M, X6M, M5 or are all those just S drive now?
Since BMW can sell you fwd., rwd., awd., why does it matter? Engineering≥marketing.
Call it M145i, don’t call it M1 or 1M.
Amazing how much horsepower out of a 4 cylinder, 416 with a 4 year/50,000 mile warranty!
Didn’t AutoCar just say 3 days ago that BMW are making a 400 hp + hatch? If they do, it’ll need to be a sleeker looking design than the M135iXDrive.
I am seriously tempted by the A45S after not being interested in the old A45. If it really does drive like a naturally aspired engine, then that with the new tech and the sleek design in grey and the GT like grill, I’m almost there.
Sleeker how? Cd. already .26, how do you make a small hatch. look sleeker? None of the competition do, if you don’t need the space you meet need the GC. But it may not have 400+ hp.
Pretty funny that Autoweek did a big article on the Mercedes AMG CLA45 today and “Never” mentioned front wheel drive or front wheel drive based it simply called it “All Wheel Drive” which 100% makes my point.