The BMW M140i is a rare bird in today’s automotive realm, as it is the only RWD hatchback model you can buy. It’s also a hot hatch by all standards and while it pains me to write this, it will soon be going the way of the Dodo. BMW already sort of confirmed that the upcoming 1 Series range will move away from their traditional rear-wheel drive setup and use a front-wheel drive chassis, meaning this will be the last RWD hatch the Bavarian brand will make and also the last one to use a straight six engine.
The guys from Car Advice teamed up with Youtube celebrity Joe Achilles to put the M140i to the test against a rival from Volkswagen. The Golf R has been a very popular choice for a huge number of hot hatch enthusiasts for a number of reasons, the most important one probably being the all-wheel drive that separates it from the otherwise technically identical GTI. Both the R and the GTI use a 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine but the former has more power, being rated at 310 HP and sends it to all four corners of the car. In Australia though, it’s detuned to 290 HP.
On the other hand, the M140i uses a 3-liter straight six mill that’s known in BMW quarters as the B58. It delivers 340 HP and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque, making it one of the best engines BMW has to offer today. Chip in the small frame of the 1 Series and you get a car that will simply blow you away in terms of handling, without being a proper M car. It’s a really fast car and if you get the RWD model – xDrive is also available – you’ll have a hard time keeping the rear end in check when pushing the gas pedal to the metal.
The two go on about the differences between the two for quite a long time, but they do arrive at a conclusion eventually. It’s a longer video than what Car Advice does usually, but their takes are interesting and we can’t help but cheer for Joe as he’s known to be quite a BMW fan.
