BMW has postponed the M1 concept debut in Geneva. I'm trying to get some more info from my source in Geneva. I had a feeling this might happen. BMW should have something production ready by Q1 2011. Stay tuned...

From BMW BLOG Twitter today:
Twitter / BMWBLOG: Sorry guys, no M1 at Genev ...

Months and months and more months ago we reported that BMW would not do an M1 version of the 1 Series. We had it on good authority from a source inside BMW. Still, the rumors of the car's existence have lit up every blog and forum the world over.

Well, today at the Geneva auto show, Inside Line has once again confirmed from a source inside BMW that the M version of the 1 Series will not happen. Got that, people? It will not happen.

"If we do something, it'll be a 135is like we've done with the Z4 and the 3 Series," the source told us with a wink.

So this fall look for BMW to introduce a 135is powered by a more powerful version of the twin-turbo N54 inline six-cylinder and a more aggressively tuned suspension.

That is all.

Source>>No BMW M1. Probably a 135is Instead - Geneva Auto Show

Redering by Harold Wood at 1addicts

 

That's too bad. Then again, the 135i is quite the little monster in its own right. I would welcome a 135is with open arms though.

 

+1... ///M or not, this little thing looks tough.

 

I liked the M1 rendering, hope they release it

 

Which means no limited slip.

Disappointed with the M3 Competition Pack, and now this from BMW . . . quite an underwhelming Geneva performance.

 

The 135's edif is actually suprisingly good, ofcourse it's no mechanical diff and it acheievs its gretaness by breaking. But still, it holds down its own very well.

 

Is it because limited-slip too cost prohibitive to fit on the IS models?

 

BMW has not put LSD's in their non M cars since the lat e90's.

The marketing droids don't want LSD equipped sporty regular BMW's to erode M car market share.

Lame, considering that my E30 325is has an LSD.

 

You're right, that's not too bad. I could live with an electronic differential. The 335i is not equipped with the E diff, correct?

 

Unless they made some super duper dramatic crazy ass improvement, it is a POS ghetto rig compares to a real LSD.

Just ask all the poor souls who track their E46, E90 regular 3's.

It sucks.