According to Edmunds Straightline, the BMW M1 is back in 2012 as a plug-in hybrid with a 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbodiesel straight out of the EfficientDynamics concept to fight off the Audi R8 and SLS AMG.
Though all this information's preliminary at this point, the new M1 (the last time we saw an M1 — not in concept — was 1981) would apparently be a touch slower than Benz's SLS Electric with BMW claiming a 4.8-second 0-to-60, along with an electronically-limited top speed of 155 MPH. Still, not to shabby for a hybrid. [Straightline]