CAR GAZING
BMW tops compact class
Turbocharged 1-Series simply amazing
By Derek Price
Last year, when I drove the new BMW 1-Series for the first time, I couldn't have been more impressed.
This car brought BMW back to its roots as a maker of lightweight sports coupes, something the German company had abandoned as its lineup grew more bloated, luxurious and expensive. It was a near-perfect car, with the kind of handling, power and style that car lovers dream about, yet it started around $28,000, a price that more mere mortals can afford.
But here's the strangest part: As impressed as I was with the new 1-Series, I wasn't even driving the best version of it. I was in the 128i, not the far more powerful 135i with its turbocharged engine.
This year I got a shot at the big-gun version, and I've just got one word for it.
Amazing.
This little car is packing an engine that would be considered powerful in a huge pickup or SUV, much less a lightweight sports coupe. The 3.0-liter powerplant has twin turbochargers that help it produce 300 horsepower and 300 foot-pounds of torque, all with smooth and refined delivery that make it easy to take advantage of the muscle.
Step on the gas, and the 135i sends all that power to its wide and sticky rear tires, rocketing away from stops with a ghostly wail. Part of the fun of this car isn't just the wild acceleration itself, but the sound it makes while doing it. It's not a sweet, musical, burbly sound of a small sports car, but a mechanical shriek that sounds far more serious than playful. It's just so German.
Also, in typical BMW style, it has the very best handling you can find in a car. It's definitely sports-oriented, with flat cornering and perfectly weighted steering, but it's also surprisingly comfortable for long trips on the highway. It's one of those rare cars that is equally at home flying around corners or cruising down the Interstate.
From a practicality standpoint, it's just what you'd expect in a compact car. The back seat is small and trunk space limited, especially on convertible models that eat into the precious cargo room to stow the top.
Styling, though, is gorgeous. The "flame surface" contours and creases that were so controversial a few years ago now look perfect on this small BMW. It's athletic, but not in the racy, ostentatious way with huge wheels and big rear spoilers. Instead, it's wonderfully tasteful, equally at home parking at a symphony as running hot laps on a racetrack.
Pricing is the one downside, as you'd expect in a near-perfect car. It starts at $29,400 for the 128i coupe, and tops out at $40,150 for the blow-you-away 135i convertible. And that's before any major upgrades.
The 135i convertible I tested cost just a hair under $50,000 after all the options. It's a great vehicle, but for that kind of price you have a lot of impressive cars to pick from, most of which are far roomier than the little 1-Series.
Still, if you want to own the very best, this is it. It's a sports coupe that doesn't make compromises.
(Derek Price is a newspaper editor and freelance writer living in Texas.)
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