How does the old BMW 1M coupe and the current M4 stack up against the shiny blue new BMW M2?

The new BMW Active Tourer might be a competent economy car, and you might think it's attractive, but it's just not a proper BMW. A BMW 1M Coupe that's very, very sideways — that's a true driver's machine.

This is the Dutch Supercar Challenge, a gentleman's race series that puts all different kinds of GT cars on the same grid. We get to see a BMW 1er hunt down a 996 GT3 Cup car and all the close racing that follows.

According to his YouTube channel, this 1M owner started karting when he was nine years old and now races BMWs. Still, there's always time for some drifting on the deserted streets of the Low Countries.

Strip malls are not the most haute of shopping experiences, but they can be great places to start a new business. This BMW 1M driver in South Africa shows how well it's working for his new donut-making operation.

Reigning king of hyperbolic auto enthusiasm Jeremy Clarkson has released his now-traditional year-end DVD, featuring his pick for best car of the year. This time around, though, the decision involves a bit of bifurcation and elaboration.

We do love the BMW aero-engined Brutus in all its flame-spitting, gargling glory. In his new DVD special, Clarkson decided to pit the Beast from Baden against something a little bit more modern, the BMW 1M.

Last month two Pacific BMW dealership employees posted video of themselves dangerously flogging a brand-new BMW 1M at high speeds on residential streets on YouTube. It ignited a firestorm of hatred against the dealership in Bimmer fan forums and on Los Angeles local television news shows.

Two unidentified individuals recently flogged a dealership-fresh BMW 1M at high speeds on residential streets. One of them caught it on video. That video wound up on YouTube. You can guess what happened next.

The BMW 1M has softened the hardened arteries of auto reviewers around the world, from Jeremy Clarkson to our own Mike Spinelli. One California BMW dealer hopes to capitalize on high praise and low supply with an insane $40,000 markup.

I told myself I would hate the BMW 1 Series M Coupe because no parts bin-built Bimmer could ever be worthy of the M-Sport badge. Right? Of course. I knew I would hate the "BMW 1M." I had to. But did I?

See, this story of the guy who picked up the very first BMW 1M is exactly why we love the concept of BMW's "European Delivery" program.

The very first BMW 1M was spotted in the Philadelphia area this morning. In Valencia Orange with a set of NJ manufacturer's license plates this 1M wasn't exactly trying to blend in. [BMW Blog]

The BMW 135i was supposed to be the shorter wheelbase mini-M3 we'd wanted since the E30. It wasn't. But the 340 hp 1 Series M Coupe's a step in the right direction. BMW unwrapped it for us early.

According to 1-Series-obsessed fanboys, BMW's only building 2,700 units of the up-powered mini-Bimmer, the 1M. It'll come in just three colors — Alpine White, Jet Black and Valencia Orange. Transmission choices? They're non-existent. Manual only. Excellent. [M3Post, Bimmerfile]

The BMW 1 Series M's showing a little skin with a front quarter strip tease a la Cadillac CTS Coupe. Nice cross-drilled rotors. We were going to call it "The Bob Lutz Strip Tease," but that's a horrifying mental image.

The new BMW 1 Series M Coupe will not be called the M1. According to BMW's Dr. Kay Segler "BMW M1 is a name with powerful historical associations...so our new model will be called the BMW 1 Series M Coupé."