Overview

BMW claims its 1-Series M Coupe is the spiritual successor to the first M3, the legendary ‘E30’ from the Eighties. Those are strong words, since that model is widely regarded as one of the best cars ever to come from BMW’s performance and motorsport wing, the ‘M’ Division. Pictures of the latest model simply don’t do this car justice – it looks a lot better in the metal.

Its muscular presence over those huge wheels is accentuated by the oversized wheel arches, menacing grille and gaping air ducts. It’s still no oil painting though; the 1-Series in coupe form is simply not a pretty car. In M-spec guise, however, it has the performance credentials to challenge the likes of Audi’s RS3 and the Porsche Cayman S. Now that the M Coupe has landed, it’s obvious that BMW has unleashed one of the best performance cars in its sector.

It turns heads wherever it goes and gives supercar drivers red faces when screaming away from traffic lights. It boasts fantastic handling and there’s a functional style to the interior, complete with a subtle ‘M’ button on the steering wheel that hint at the car’s capabilities. Has the 1M Coupe got what it takes to challenge its German rivals? Can it really supersede the truly legendary E30 M3?

Read on to find out…