ONE TO WATCH(some text hidden)

By Jonathan Crouch

Ten Second Review word count: 62

BMW's fourth generation F70-era 1 Series line-up is topped by this potent M135 xDrive hot hatch model. There's a sharper exterior look and a redesigned front-of-cabin experience, but otherwise, things are much as with the previous F40-series version of this model. Which means around 300hp, all-wheel drive and a more mature drive experience than old-school rear-driven 1 Series hot hatches served up.

Background word count: 130

Once upon a time, a BMW 1 Series hot hatch was a rather unique hot hatch confection, rear driven with a howling straight six engine - a car for the hot hatch cognoscenti. The sort of model a race track instructor would use as his day-to-day drive. But then in 2019 with the introduction of the mainly front-driven F40 version of this car, everything changed. Out went rear wheel drive; in came xDrive AWD and a four cylinder 2.0-litre powerplant for what was then called the 'M135i xDrive'. The replacement F70-era version of this car retains that mechanical set-up, but loses the 'i' from its name (that letter now used to designate BMW's EVs). More importantly, it gains a sharper look and redesigned screen tech. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experience word count: 353

As with the previous generation M135i xDrive, this top variant has all-wheel drive, but its 2.0-litre four cylinder engine now offers fractionally less power (6hp less) than its predecessor, though the 300hp output isn't much different, so the 4.9s 0-62mph sprint time is only a tenth slower than the old model. Top speed remains electronically limited to 155mph. Oh and when you select 'Sport', the added fake 'Iconic Sound' soundtrack is remarkably satisfying and sporty. It sounds rather less appealing if you turn off the synthesised speaker accompaniment. Like the previous F40 M135i model, this F70 car has Launch Control and a mechanical Torsen limited slip differential to get its grip to the gravel. Which is much the same kind of approach that's on offer from obvious rivals like the Golf R and the Audi S3. There's not the same challenge in driving it that characterised the last decade's pre-2019-era F20 six cylinder model - but then, you might have expected that. This F70 M135 xDrive, like its F40 predecessor, differs from lesser 1 Series variants with its stiffer suspension set-up, which in combination with the 10mm-lower ride height does in truth make the ride somewhat over-firm for our country's terrible tarmac. That's despite the standard inclusion of M Adaptive suspension, which doesn't help much and is only controllable via use of the different drive modes. In our view, you'd be unwise to make the ride even stiffer by paying extra for BMW's 'M Dynamic Pack', which gives you a more focused 'Dynamic Chassis' set-up that the brand says can unlock 'a new character' for this fast hatch. In some ways, even in this standard form, it's already got a more focused character than it had before, courtesy of quite a few subtle engineering tweaks. At the front, the subframe features an extra couple of bracing bars for extra steering accuracy and the electrically assisted rack features a quick ratio of 14:1 (the standard 120 model is set at 15:1). Finally, the brake master cylinder is bigger than that of a more ordinary 1 Series for better response and more consistent pedal pressure.