Engineered for speed

Brian Bonitto, Special Assignment Editor

IT IS here. Three months after making its Latin American and Caribbean debut in the high altitude of Colombia, the 2012 BMW 1-Series M coupe made its way to the tropical paradise of Jamaica.

"It is one of the halo cars of the BMW line-up and we now have it available," said Duncan Stewart, general manager of the Orchard Road-based Stewart Motors. Stewart Motors is the local authorised dealer of BMW and MINI marquee.

"It's drawing a lot of attention to the mark and to our showroom because of its attractive looks, performance and packaging."

The latest two-door 1-Series M Coupe is the first generation of entry level 1-Series to wear the coveted M badge.

BMW M was initially created to fuel the company's racing programme which enjoyed tremendous success during the 1960s and '70s. M-badged cars traditionally include modifications to engines, transmissions, suspensions and aerodynamics.

"It's a motorsport-derived car with the balance of braking, power, handling and a 50-50 weight distribution," said Stewart.

The 1-Series M Coupe has earned its street cred as it was designed for the purist driver in mind. It is fitted with a conventional six-speed manual gearbox option. The hotrod's menacing front bumper, bulging, wide body and its signature four exhaust pipes give testament to its lineage. The transmission is operated using a very short M gearshift lever. The final drive ratio is 3.15: 1.

Fast acceleration

The coupe carries a three-litre, twin turbo, in-line six-cylinder engine, which delivers 250kw/340 hp and completes a sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. It attains a top speed of 250 km/h (electronically limited). The average consumption, according to the EU tests, is 9.6 litres per 100 kilometres.

To switch from the normal operating status, the driver can activate M Dynamic Mode (MDM) by the push of a button which raises the intervention thresholds of the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system.

The car is packaged with an alphabet soup of features which includes antilock brake system (ABS), an anti-slip control function (ASC), the brake assistant dynamic brake control (DBC) and cornering brake control (CBC).

The cockpit boasts an Alcantara trim with orange stitching on the dashboard and gauge binnacle.

Safety features include front, pelvis-thorax and side curtain head airbags, three-point automatic seat-belts with belt force limiters and belt pretensioners at the front.

"We're not looking for great volume in sales as it is a limited edition. But we think it's a great success already based on the interest it is generating," Stewart added.

2012 BMW 1-SERIES M COUPE

Drive type: Rear-wheel drive

Engine: 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder, twin-power turbo — 250 kW at 5,900 rpm

Torque: 332 lb-ft (450 Nm) from 1,500 — 4,500 rpm.

Red line: 7,000 rpm

Transmission: Six-speed manual

0 to 100 km/h: 4.9 seconds

Top speed: 250 km/h

Weight: 3,362 lb (1,525kg),

Starting price: J$8.5 million