FOUR SEASONS SPECIAL COMPARO: BMW M's brutish brothers forge a path of their own

摘要

When BMW enthusiasts crane their necks toward the night sky, their thoughts might often turn to coveted stars from the M galaxy. Whether it's the E30 M3, Z3 M Coupe, E46 M3, or E39 M5, many longtime fans consider the cosmic formula of on-road performance, track athleticism, and a unique engine to be inviolable dogma. Then there's the new BMW M2 and its predecessor, the 1 Series M. This terrible twosome managed to break free from the usual orbit, powered by inline-sixes that are not only turbocharged but are also based on engines in more "pedestrian" offerings such as the M235i and Z4 35is. Yet the limited-run 1M sold out quickly in the U.S. in 2011-12, and the M2 waiting list in some regions still runs to almost a year. The best M cars of this decade appear to bend the rules and still come up roses.