An engineer involved with the development of the 2011+ BMW 1 Series M has revealed that it was a vehicle that probably needed more time in development. The engineer in question and man behind the new BMW M2, Frank Isenberg, says he felt that there were some aspects of the existing 1 Series M model which needed further tweaking and adjustment.
The 1 Series M Coupe was widely criticised for being difficult to drive at the limit, seemingly doing everything it could to push you off the track. Isenberg said that this “tricky behaviour” was one thing he didn’t want to replicate with the new M2. “We were not really happy with it, but I think it just happened,” he said. “We had a very short development time. It was the first time that we used the turbocharged engine with a lot of torque. All this to put together maybe could have used a year more development I think.”
Isenberg also indicated that while the handling of the 1 Series M Coupe may not have been to all tastes, it was a trait that some admired. “On the other hand, this created a very special character,” he said. “People are happy to drive the 1 Series M Coupe. The stability control system was not that sophisticated… it was not really refined. Looking back to the success of the 1 Series M Coupe, we kept it easy, simple – a puristic car.”