2015 BMW M135i First Drive: Hot Hatch Supreme

At one point, a six-cylinder engine was the hallmark of an ultimate hot hatch, offering smoothness and superior power. The Volkswagen Golf R32 had one as did the Audi A3, and Mercedes-Benz offered the slightly bigger C-class Sport Coupe with a V-6, as well. With the advent of more stringent fuel-economy regulations and the corresponding engine downsizing, the six-cylinder hot hatch is a thing of the past—except at BMW. The 1-series hatchback, sold all over the globe but not in the States, is still available with a straight-six. It’s called the M135i, and although it’s available with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic, we sampled the purist’s version, with rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual. READ MORE ››

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