BMW 1-Series To Best Previous M3 Around the Ring?

In the performance car world, times on the Nurburgring are all-important as bragging rights and a measure of a car's chops on one of the toughest tracks in the world. Who can forget the public back and forth between Nissan and Porsche over who held the record at the track?

As such, the Nurburgring time for BMW's latest, the 1-Series M, is an important metric. After a whole lot of teasing the car debuted last week. The car represents a return to roots of sorts for BMW and the M division, with a strong resemblance to early M3s.

With a V-6 making 335 horsepower, the car was designed to slot in below the M3 in the current lineup. Understandably, BMW has a clearly defined hierachy and wouldn't let the lighter, less expensive 1-Series M eclipse the M3.

However, according to BimmerFile the car's time bests that of the previous M3 around the Ring. The V-6 powered previous generation M3 set a time of 8:22 while the 1-Series M reportedly laps the track in 8:12. The current V-8 car clocks in at 8:05.

The car also bests the time of the outgoing V-10 M5. Not bad for BMW's newest performance newcomer. We bet the 1-Series M would be a hoot to drive around the track, with its lighter curb weight and smaller, more agile footprint.