2020 BMW M135i

Fresh off the production line is the new third generation BMW 1-Series, with the 300+ horsepower M135i taking it’s place as the top of the range. Whilst once based off a shortened 3-Series platform the 1-Series now gets it’s very own chassis, but loses a key ingredient in the process. That ingredient is the removal of the rear-wheel drive setup BMW’s are so well known for. The Front-wheel drive layout has been chosen for more ideal packaging and increased interior space, but has robbed the 1-Series some of it’s dynamic appeal. The M135i does get BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive as standard, though it is a front-wheel biased system much like a Haldex design only sending a maximum of 50% power to the rear wheels.

Propulsion is provided by BMW’s B48 four-cylinder petrol engine, which is a 2.0L unit and features a twin-scroll turbocharger to boost power output. That peak power is rated at 306 PS (225 kW), which is available from 5,000 to 6,500 rpm. Peak torque is a beefy 332 lb-ft (450 Nm) between 1,750 and 4,500 rpm. Those figures put the M135i in the same ball park as the Mercedes-AMG A35 and Volkswagen Golf R, comfortably beating both of them with it’s torque figure whilst shading the Golf in power, and equaling the Mercedes.