BMW M CEO Dr. Friedrich Nitschke: There Will Be a 1-series M Coupe Successor

If a 1-series M coupe sequel happens, it’ll probably be in the form of an M2 like the one shown in this rendering.
Remember the 2011 BMW 1-series M coupe? Of course you do—or should—it’s the 335-hp 1-series with a funny name that is smaller, lighter, and nearly as quick as the current M3. Indeed, the 1-series M coupe was the most fun M car in recent memory, but BMW restricted sales to the 2011 model year. We have it on good authority that the 1-series M coupe will be revived (with a name change to M2, following BMW’s move to name sedans with odd numbers and coupes with even ones), but BMWBlog seems to have gathered further evidence directly from BMW M CEO Friedrich Nitschke.

• Comparison Test: 2012 Audi TT RS vs. 2011 BMW 1-series M Coupe, 2011 Infiniti IPL G Coupe
• Instrumented Test: 2013 BMW M5 Manual
• Instrumented Test: 2012 BMW M6 Convertible

According to BMWBlog, Nitschke was quoted responding to a question about the future of the 1-series M coupe with “I absolutely sure we will build a successor.” Nitschke cites the original car’s popularity as one of the key reasons he would pursue a sequel, but also notes that a final decision on the successor’s fate has yet to be made. While it’s possible the new 1-series M could be an all-wheel-drive, high-output version of the next-generation, front-wheel-drive-based 1-series hatchback (which will merge architecturally with Mini’s next-generation Cooper hatch), we believe the M CEO is referring instead to a hot version of the forthcoming, rear-drive 2-series.
Now, hopefully when BMW builds the M2, it will send it here—the U.S. currently is without even a slightly warmed-over version of the 1-series à la the European-market M135i.


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