The current BMW M135i produces 302 horsepower, but could more power hide under this prototype camo wrap? Correction – can a many more power lurking under the hood? That’s a weird question we had after perusing the latest spy photos of BMW’s entry-level model.
Our curiosity stems from the four rather glossy exhaust tips that pop out at the rear, a feature we’ve seen in previous Series 1 sightings. Such a setup is not offered on the M135i at this time, and in fact, is usually reserved for full-fat M models. There’s no such vehicle in the Series 1, and we haven’t heard anything suggesting that will change. However, that doesn’t mean the M135i can’t be upgraded to the M140. Not a full M badge monster. But it’s not just the Series 1 hatchback with more power.
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This is an interesting puzzle, but is likely to remain elusive for some time. We’re still seeing early versions of the updated hot hatch, as evidenced by the large number of panels that hide detail changes to the front clip. If you look closely, the headlights will be slimmer while the grille remains roughly the same size. The lower fascia could eliminate the vertical angle vents for something more rounded. At the rear, we detect updated taillights, but the rear fascia looks unfinished. Maybe a diffuser can pop under those tips before all is said and done.
This is where things get a little confusing. Information leaked in July said the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine used in the Series 1 would produce a maximum power of 315 horsepower in the upper trim. That’s a small difference compared to the current model, which would go hand in hand with a mid-cycle refresh for the M135i. However, it seems odd that such a modest power boost would include the identical quad exhaust tips of the insane M model. Could the leaked information be wrong? Could BMW have plans for an actual M engine in the 1 Series family, placed above the M135i?
One thing we do know is that a definitive answer is not coming anytime soon. The M135 is currently debuting in October 2021 for the 2022 model year. That means the reveal of the updated version could be at least a year away, if not longer.
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