BMW 1M Coupe filmed drifting at the world’s tallest helipad

The 2012 BMW 1M Coupe really is on top of the world these days, isn’t it?

Days after the car was featured on the pilot episode of the new season of Top Gear, BMW’s high-powered 1M found itself on top of one of the tallest buildings in America: the U.S. Bank Tower in Los Angeles. More important than that, the U.S. Bank Tower stands 1,018 feet tall and is considered as the tallest building in the world with a helipad on it.

So what exactly is the 1M Coupe doing on the helipad of this skyscraper?

Well, there’s awesome and then there’s awesome. This video of the 1M Coupe performing an arc drift on top of the world’s tallest helipad certainly qualifies for the latter. Kind of makes that previous video of the sports car drifting through walls look like child’s play, doesn’t it? Either way, the whole video certainly speaks for itself.

Reminder: The BMW 1M Coupe is powered by a new twin-turbocharged, all-aluminum, 3.0-liter inline-6 engine that delivers an impressive 335 HP at 5,900 rpm and 332 lb-ft of torque from 1,500 rpm to 4,500 rpm. It has a sprint time from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and a electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. The standing quarter-mile mark comes up in 13.2 seconds.

gallery:2012 BMW 1-Series M Coupe

 

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Source:BMW

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2012 BMW 1-Series M Coupe clocks the Nurburgring at 8:15

The BMW 1-Series M Coupe’s highly anticipated turn at the Nurburgring finally took place. SportAuto took the newest addition to BMW’s M family for the cursory timed lap around the world’s most famous race track. After their session around the Ring with the 1M Coupe, the results finally came in: eight minutes and 15 seconds.

As far as we’re concerned, the figure is both impressive and disappointing. It’s impressive because it beat out the lap times of some of its notable competitors, particularly the 320-horsepower Porsche Cayman S, which clocked in two seconds slower than the 1M Coupe, as well as the two Audi sportsters, the TT RS, and the RS3 Sportback.

On the flip side, SportAuto was the first to admit that the 1-Series M Coupe’s time could have been faster if not for the racing compound tires and the stiff suspension at which the 1-Series M Coupe was configured. While we certainly can’t blame SportAuto for the time they posted - 8:15 is impressive by most accounts - they did open the door for the BMW sports car to post an even faster time around the Nurburgring if it’s properly set-up.

When that will be is still anyone’s guess, but the gauntlet has definitely been thrown down.

gallery:2012 BMW 1-Series M Coupe

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Source:1Addicts

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The new BMW 1-Series

The second generation BMW 1-Series improves on the current 1-Series which has already sold over 1 000 000 units world wide. It seems like all the tick-boxes have been checked for the new 1-Series; it has better fuel economy, space, performance and comfort. The styling of the car has also undergone some significant changes, whether they are an improvement or not is a matter of taste. What has remained the same is that the BMW 1-Series is still the only rear-wheel drive model in its class, what has changed is that for the first time, all petrol and diesel engines in the new 1-Series will feature the new BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. This has improved the performance resulting in the following figures. The 116i produces 100 kW/136 hp, the 118i produces 125 kW/170 hp. The 2 litre diesel engines have undergone a redesign and now produce the following figures: 116d produces 85 kW/116 hp, the 118d produces 105 kW/143 hp and the 120d produces 135 kW/184 hp. Ride-comfort and handling has also been addressed and improved, thanks to the rear-wheel drive, in-line engines, perfectly balanced weight distribution and advanced suspension technology. As far as the dimensions go, the body of the new BMW 1-Series is 85mm longer, the wheelbase is 30mm longer, the front track is 51mm wider and the rear track is 72mm wider than the previous 1-Series model. The height of the new 1-Series is still the same as the previous model but the increased width results in increased interior space. The legroom has also been increased as well as the luggage compartment, which has been expanded to 360 litres. The new 1-Series also comes with the option of BMW Sport Line and BMW Urban Line, which offer interior and exterior equipment to further personalize the vehicle. The Sport Line includes: Sport seats, leather sports steering wheel, high-gloss black interior trim and a more. It also comes with 16-inch star-spoke light-alloy wheels, black exhaust pipe end trim and “BMW Sport” lettering on the door sills. The Urban Line comes with specific cloth/leather seats as well as a leather sports steering wheel, adjustable armrests and contemporary acrylic glass trim in the interior. The ambient and courtesy lights can be alternated between orange and blue, with an additional light source on the B-pillar. Look for more information regarding a local release later this year.

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