2007 BMW 1-Series Coupe tii Concept

The brand new 1-Series Coupe is going to be a very special car. Small,

lightweight, but powerful beyond all measure, it looks to be the new standard in the compact luxury marketplace, particularly in its twin-turbocharged 135i form. Though BMW's own boffins have already made a sportier model by handing over the plans to the M division for tweaks to the suspension and other components, they saved the best for the Tokyo auto show. Far away from home, the brand unveiled its idea of the ultimate expression of performance for the 1-Series Coupe, called the tii Concept.

Without straying too far from the original production car, BMW was able to change key components to make the car better suited to high performance driving. Both front and rear bumpers are different, not only in styling but in length as well. The hood is unique, designed with vents to aid the airflow of the vehicle. Even the trunk lid has been changed, and features a Gurney flap made from carbon fiber to increase downforce over the rear axle. Without resorting to a widebody kit or a giant wing, BMW has effectively used some

of the tricks of the touring car racing trade on the tii. But what would a high performance BMW be without carbon fiber? Since the M6 came out, the brand has been all about installing carbon fiber to not only reduce weight, but to lower a car's center of gravity. A new carbon fiber hood has been installed, as have carbon fiber side-view mirrors and accent pieces.

While there's a sense of performance gained by these additions, the tii also happens to look poised and purposeful. The offset racing stripe that switches from black to Alpine White over the carbon fiber hood is a nice touch, as are the M3-esque light alloy wheels. You'll also notice that there is a “tii” logo on the front bumper, but backwards. It's not so much for the owner, but for the drivers in front who, when looking in their rear-view mirrors, realize that they're about to be passed by something special. The original “tii” had the word “turbo” written in the same place the same way, so we're guessing that it's a subtle hint as to what's under the hood. Overall, the car has the look of a touring car racer, minus the number on the side and various sponsors' decals.

The theme carries over directly into the interior, where you'll find that most of the plastic surfaces have been re-trimmed in grippy Alcantara like the dashboard and door trim, and in place of the brushed aluminum trim for the dashboard and steering wheel, there is gloss white, a reflection of the car's exterior. Other important changes include new super-aggressive sports seats, a new shift knob with an anodized shift knob collar, new aluminum and rubber pedals, and a thicker ring around the steering wheel, trimmed in Alcantara, no less. Also, the driver's seat features stitching and seatbelt in blue, whereas the passenger's integrates white stitching and a regular belt. BMW has also changed the rev counter on the instrument cluster for the tii. Instead of being the usual off-black, it's white to better attract the driver's attention. The tii isn't, however, a road-going race version such as a Porsche 911 GT3-RS with roll cage and fire extinguisher; this car still has its rear seats (also trimmed in Alcantara).

BMW hasn't released the exact figures of just how many pounds have been shed, but we do know that it is lighter than a stock vehicle. Also, BMW hasn't stated what type of engine is under the hood, but it's safe to assume that it's going to be packing the full-on 300-horsepower, twin-turbocharged straight six. However, with a car that has as much focus on street performance as this, we wouldn't be surprised if BMW decided to make the tii a one-off, and drop in the extra-high revving 2.0-liter inline-four from the European-only 320si, a performance model of the 3-Series sedan to commemorate its race-winning achievements across the globe in touring car racing. That particular engine offered 172 horsepower – less than the base 128i – but the fact that it delivered its power at 7,000 rpm meant that it was much more honed towards high-performance, on the edge driving.

The new 130i, particularly with the announced Sport

package, has been hailed as the symbolic return of the original four-cylinder M3 based on the E30 generation 3-Series, but recent tests have shown that it's a much different sort of vehicle. Like most BMWs, it feels solid, and decisive, much like a 3-Series, but smaller. The key difference is that these weren't the characteristics that defined the original M3, but rather its almost telepathic communication combined with precise response to input and skill of the control. Hopefully, but shedding some of the weight, the 1 might gain some of the original M3's traits.

While the car shown in Tokyo is a concept car, it's almost certain that BMW will build a production version of the 1-Series Coupe with similar exterior and interior modifications. Engine upgrades are unlikely since 300 horsepower in this size of vehicle, sans weight would be plenty fast. Though “tii” might even sound like a great tribute to the 2002 model of yore, a lightweight production 1-Series would more likely wear the “CS” badge, which has made an appearance on many recent BMWs including a concept sports sedan and the previous M3.

Whatever it might be called, a lighter, quicker, better handling car is always welcome around these parts.