| abstract
| - BMW's 1 Series represented a new way of thinking for the Bavarian company. This compact sports machine was smaller than the 3 Series, yet still retained the ability to fulfill the needs of the enthusiast driver, without sacrificing ride quality or stability. The base 1 Series first appeared in 2007, but the 135i Coupe was the model enthusiasts greeted with excitement. This top-of-the-line model came equipped with BMW's trusty 3-liter DOHC inline-6, also found in the 335i, which featured direct injection and parallel twin turbos. It produced an impressive 301 HP and 295.1 ft-lb of torque, making it one of the most powerful and and quickest cars in its class. Turbo lag was all but nonexistent, giving the driver the feeling of a large displacement normally-aspirated engine. And because the 1 Series was slightly smaller than the 335i, the experience behind the steering wheel was akin to that of a sports car, reminding many of the legendary E30 and E36 M3. At approximately 100 kg lighter than the BMW 335i at 1,530 kg, the 135i's mass is on a par with that of a Porsche 911 (997), so it came as no surprise when journalists all over the world said that the BMW 135i was a car that must be experienced on the racetrack to enjoy to its full potential. BMW claimed that the 135i was capable of running from 0-62 mph in 5.3 seconds, while achieving impressive fuel economy of 10.2 km/liter.
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