Story & photos by Patrick P. Tulfo
BMW Philippines brought yet another mid-engined supercar to the 2018 Manila International Auto Show (Mias) held from April 5 to 8.
But unlike last year’s futuristic i8 with its gullwing doors and electric drivetrain, the German carmaker showcased an icon of its past: the M1 supercar.
For those who may not remember, the M1 is the very first model born out of BMW’s high-performance M line. Produced from 1978 to 1981, the M1’s wedge-shaped body was penned by celebrated Italian car designer Giorgetto Giugaro, whose company was responsible for designs like the DeLorean, the first-generation Volkswagen Golf and the Maserati Bora.
Powered by a twin-cam, 3.5-liter, 24-valve inline-6 producing 273 horsepower, the M1 was originally designed for a (short-lived) one-make race series. A stunning bright-orange model, which is one of only 453 units ever made, took center stage at the BMW booth.
Joining the M1 were its modern equivalents: the M2 coupe and the even rarer M4 DTM Champion Edition, of which only 200 units were made. The M2 is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter, twin-cam, 24-valve, direct-injection inline-six producing 370 horsepower and 465 N-m of torque.
Mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, this pocket rocket can hurtle from 0 to 100 km/h in around 4.3 seconds and onto an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.
Meanwhile, the 493-horsepower M4 DTM not only packs around 70 more horsepower than the standard M4, but also comes with special decals, a more aggressive body kit and a large rear spoiler.
For those who want a BMW to cruise around in, the all-new X3 Sports Activity Vehicle and the sleek 4 Series Gran Coupe made their appearances at the show.
The X3 is available in two variants: the comfort-oriented xLine and the more aggressive M Sport. Both are propelled by a 2.0-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve, direct-injection inline-4 turbodiesel producing 190 horsepower and 400 N-m of torque.
This mill is mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox with sequential shift mode and BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system.
Rounding up the display were three models from BMW Motorrad: the S 1000 RR superbike, the G 310 R and the first-ever G 310 GS.
“Under the theme ‘Work and Play,’ we are proud to host an especially curated exhibit of some of the best models from BMW at the Manila International Auto Show 2018,” said Maricar Parco, president of SMC Asia Car Distributors Corp., the exclusive importer and distributor of BMW in the Philippines. “The models that we will present truly embody not only this year’s concept, but also our promise of ‘Sheer Driving Pleasure’ in every journey,” she added.
Visitors also got the chance to win limited-edition BMW gifts from the BMW Lifestyle range, which featured branded merchandise at special rates.
Image credits: Patrick P. Tulfo