With summer just around the corner, BMW is embarking on a comprehensive refresh of its compact model range, a late spring clean if you will. Blowing out the cobwebs is an all new stronger, beefed up six-cylinder powertrain that debuts under the otherwise unaltered skin of the BMW 1 and 2 Series.
Ready for the 2017 model year, the BMW 1 Series hatch plus the 2 Series Coupé and Convertible line-ups both get an extra dose of the M treatment. Powered by a new 3.0-litre straight-six engine, the M140i and M240i both get a 14bhp power boost over their predecessors plus 37lb/ft more torque, bringing the total performance figures up to an impressive of 340bhp and 370lb/ft torque.
Instantaneous acceleration chips 0.3 seconds off of the in the M140i’s previous 0-62mph sprint time, vanquishing that target in 4.6 seconds if selected in automatic guise. It’s a similar story with the new M2 Coupé, whilst its stablemate the M240i Convertible launches from rest to 62mph just 4.7 seconds. Top speed for both variants is electronically pegged at 155mph.
As part of the M performance package, the 2017 1 and 2 Series both benefit from on-demand cooling, electronic power steering, auto stop start and regenerative breaking. Either a six-speed manual gearbox with throttle blip function or a multi down-shifting eight-speed sport automatic transmission can be specified, whilst launch control that intelligently maps and pre-empts your shift pattern extracts every last fraction of performance from the 1 Series M and M2 in a straight sprint.
Pricing for the BMW M140i starts at £31,875 whilst the M240i Coupé checks out at £35,090. Its Convertible counterpart is listed at £38,535, with sales of the compact M-line pairing expected to get underway this summer.
