BMW Plans 1 Series M Sedan

Sources at BMW AG tells Autocar it hopes to produce a high-performance M sedan based on its second-generation 1 Series small car but probably not until at least 2015.

The British auto enthusiast magazine cites an unidentified company source who notes that the market for relatively inexpensive but powerful small cars is growing quickly.

Another source points out that BMW's iconic M3 and M5 cars have grown considerably more expensive in recent years. Although those models sell well, the source says, "It is time to concentrate on the more affordable end of the performance range."

But the M1 sedan won't arrive soon because BMW engineers are already swamped with vehicle development projects, according to Autocar.

The magazine predicts the proposed 1 Series M sedan will be powered by a special version of company's 2.0-liter twin-turbocharged N20 four-cylinder engine tweaked to increase output 25% to at least 300 hp.

Autocar says the company is considering two dramatically different options. One choice would build the M1 sedan on a stretched version of the next-generation rear-drive 1 Series platform. A second possibility is to use the new front-drive "UKL1" platform BMW unveiled in September at the Paris auto show. The front-drive chassis will carry the next-generation Mini.