We've waited a long time for this. And not just for the official name. BMW has released the first teaser video of its upcoming 1 Series M Coupe and "excited" doesn't begin to describe how we're feeling.
The video after the jump is devoid of hard details, but it confirms what we've seen in countless spy shots and the rumors that have made the rounds for nearly a year.
Early reports indicate that the turbocharged inline-six in the standard 135i will be upgraded to around 350 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The M Coupe's newfound grunt will be channeled through a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox and to the rear wheels via a torque-vectoring M rear differential, resulting in a 0-60 time of around 4.3 to 4.5 seconds.
Naturally, firmer springs, dampers and bushings are part of the package, along with lightweight 18-inch wheels and a full body kit consisting of a new fascia, flared wheel arches, larger side sills, rear diffuser and a small spoiler. Being an M-fettled product, expect a quad-tipped exhaust to reside out back and ? judging by previous spy shots and the official video ? BMW's trademark fender vents.
BMW kindly requests you to register at M-Power.com for more details and to sign up for an exclusive test drive. The rub: it's only open to "German and Austrian" drivers. Here's hoping that unjust regionalism doesn't extend to sales when the 1 Series M Coupe hit dealers in the second quarter of 2011.
