An AWD BMW 'M130iX' Is On The Way With 300bhp
When a conversation about circa-£30,000 hot hatches comes up, the likes of the Honda Civic Type R, Ford Focus RS and the new Hyundai I30 N tend to dominate proceedings. But there’s one contender that’s often forgotten, and it does things rather differently. We’re talking about the BMW M140i.
It has more cylinders than all its rivals. It sends its power exclusively to the rear wheels. And it’s also available with some bonkers discounts in the UK, making it potentially a lot cheaper too. Sounds like there must be a catch, right? Sadly there is - this inline-six-powered, RWD little beasty will soon be replaced with a all-wheel drive car packing an inline-four.
This is something we’ve known for a while. The whole 1-series range is set to be based on a development of the transverse UKL architecture that underpins the 2-series Active Tourer and various Mini models, and that’ll inevitably mean the fastest next-gen 1-series will be all-wheel drive rather than rear. Now though, we have some new details about the 1er range-topper.
Autocar reports that the M Performance version will be dubbed ‘M130iX’. The ‘iX’ suffix is a nod to the AWD versions of the E30 3-series and E34 5-series, and here it’s referring to BMW’s multi-plate clutch ‘Xdrive’ system.
It’ll be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre inline-four, kicking out around 300bhp. The car will be going toe-to-toe with rivals like the Audi S3 and Mercedes-AMG’s new ‘A35’ hot hatch.
Struggling to come to terms with the idea of an all-wheel drive M Performance machine? Seek solace in the fact that the next 2-series will still be rear-driven. The coupe is expected to use a short version of BMW’s CLAR (cluster architecture) platform, so yes, that means the next M240i and the full-fat M2 will still send power rearwards.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
What is the point to do this when there is the 140i with a bit more bhp and a better engine ?
Like they said the new 1 series will have a transverse layout so there’ll be no room for an I6 in there.
Press F to pay respect and to mourn the death of the only mad Front engined-RWD hatch.
F
And then the bonkers Renault Clio V6
f
Inb4 “GTC4Lusso is a hatchback” comments
Could this be a possible homage to the M1?
Nope.
On the left is M1 and on the right is 1M… Two different cars
why the hell should it be?
wasn’t one M1 and the other 1M?
F
Such a shame they’re getting rid of the 6pot RWD combo.
Speaking of the discounts, I got my M140i with options for a HUGE 10k less than the RRP!
I can see why the ‘M130i’ has the lowered power output, because it’s not a true ‘M’ car, it’s a sub-brand, like Audi’s ‘S’ and Fords ‘ST’, but the fact the M140i can keep an RS3/Focus RS in check speaks volumes.
They have a wonderful car already. The M135i/140i are the hottest hatches out there with RWD and I6 engines, but I guess they´re trying to make it more affordable and more like the rest. Bummer. On the bright side, we now hold a car which is more special in the hot hatch market.
Maybe they incorporate the new “switchable AWD to RWD” from the M5
BMW 1 is FWD car in the first place, I don’t think there’s “switchable RWD” comming.
I think, that the GKN awd (focus rs, insignia GSi…) is the way to go in the case of a transverse engine.
Well that´s a bummer. What made the M135i and the M140i special was precisely the fact that you got a I6 with RWD, unlike the dime a dozen awd or fwd hot hatches available in the market. They´ve lowered the output and made it one of the bunch. I guess that will sell better.
PLEASE don’t ditch your unique selling points. There are half a dozen 300hp AWD hot hatches. The market doesn’t need another.
Shame it’s going AWD, if only it could stay original (i.e. RWD)
bmw has been making awd since the 80s m8 ever hear of the e30 325ix? and by original you mean manual right :) because those are going to disappear, very soon unfortunately.