Let me get this bit out of the way, because there is nothing that I loathe more than an article about a new car that is more focussed on what came before than the car you came to read about. So with that in mind, allow me to say that the pre-facelift BMW M135i had more power (306 bhp), torque (332 lb ft), gears (8) and badges (7) on the boot than the new iteration. 

The re-christened M135 comes with 296 bhp and 295 lb ft (400 nm) from its de-tuned 2.0 litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that has had to be altered to comply with the latest round of Euro emissions regulations. Performance still goes to all four wheels through BMW’s xDrive system, but there are now 7 gears in the box. The xDrive badge is also one of two that leaves the tailgate, with the other being the “i” that used to follow the model designation, owing to that letter now being reserved for electric models like the i4, which makes sense to me.

But the big takeaway is that the new hot 1 Series is less potent than before. How is that an improvement? Well, to find out I am banning myself from making cheap comparisons to the model which has just been replaced.

The new M135 is no slouch, with a 0-62 mph time of just 4.9 seconds and a limited top speed of 155 mph. That is respectable by any standards and places the car firmly in the ballpark of its closest rivals - the new Audi S3 and the Mercedes-AMG A 35. Peak torque is available from 2,000 - 4,500 rpm while full power is on hand from 5,750 - 6,500 rpm, so the engine should be able to make quick progress through the ratios of the new 7-speed twin-clutch transmission. 

The key changes that have led BMW to give the car a new model code are to be found on the chassis itself, and this is more likely to make the difference for a reworked hot hatch than a few horsepower being gained or lost; there’s increased body rigidity, new anti-roll bar mounts and updated shock absorbers, along with a 20% change to the caster angle of the front wheels which will improve cornering stability and feedback through the steering wheel. As standard, the car rides on M Adaptive suspension with 18” wheels attached, but there are two 19” designs available.

Coming later this year is the M Technology Package that will come with modified suspension, a further stiffened chassis, 19” forged alloys, uprated brakes and some yet to be specified “lightweight measures” that should shave a few kilos of the current 1,625 kg kerb weight. We all know that the recipe of a circa 300 bhp output and all-wheel drive works wonders for hot hatches, bringing an impressive turn of pace to cars that still have room for five people, child seats or 380 litres of luggage or shopping to fit in the boot, completing the mundane drives as well as the exciting ones. The M-fettled 1 Series always looked appealing as a collection of statistics, but with the new F70 generation, it looks more appealing as a piece of design too.

The rear end gets new lights with four arrow-shaped segments that look reminiscent of the headlights in the new M4 to my eyes. Flanking the new diffuser trim is the quad-exit exhaust with silver tips as standard, although these can be turned black as part of the M Sport Pack Pro. This option package also darkens the headlights and adds red brake callipers that provide a power boost of 5 bhp* each. An M-specific lip spoiler with raised outer edges sits at the top of the tailgate.