What They Did Right: Powertrain, steering, handling, quality-all that driving stuff

Room For Improvement: Cramped rear seat, exterior styling, value message

"Astonishing speed and mechanical grip. The 2009 BMW 1-Series is more confident at 150 than the GT-R, which is saying something," notes Loh. "Great squirt between the corners, excellent grip, marvelous steering, tidy dimensions," says Markus. "Terrific motor-no surprise here," adds Reynolds.

The 2009 BMW 135i, unfortunately, isn't much of a snowmobile. Very limited ground clearance, marginal tires, and overactive traction control means you need to forego electronic nannies and carefully choose your lines turning into parking lots or down unplowed streets.

Still, in my heart of hearts, I think it is too big and heavy. Two hundred pounds less than a BMW 3-series is not enough; Five-hundred would have been better. If it were that easy, though, I expect they would have done it already. But one step in the right direction might be a four-cylinder engine - and a turbo four for those who want to go really fast.

Like all 2009 BMW 1-series, the 135i is based on the underpinnings of the 3-series. The same twin-turbo, direct-injected, 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder found in the 335i is also found here, producing 306 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque with virtually indiscernible lag. A strut-type front suspension and a multilink rear setup are essentially borrowed wholesale from the BMW 3-series, as is a six-speed manual transmission.

The 3.0-liter six delivers its peak torque at 1300 rpm and hauls the little coupe to 62 mph in 5.3 seconds, according to BMW. (To put that figure in perspective, that's just half a second slower than the 414-hp M3.) The engine emits a glorious roar, one that threatens to rip your ears from the side of your head.

Chassis balance is one of our few complaints, as the 2009 BMW 135i is plagued by tire-howling understeer-more so than with the 335i - a situation that's not helped by an open rear differential, a minuscule rear antiroll bar, and front tires that are narrower than those used on the rear. That said, steering feel is fantastic - it wouldn't be a stretch to say that the 135i's hydraulically assisted rack (all other 2009 BMW 1-series cars use electrically aided steering) offers better feedback than any other current BMW, and that's saying a lot.

The six-cylinder engine in the BMW 135i is the same 300-hp turbocharged unit as in the 335i, giving a to 155 mph and a 0-to-62-mph time of way too quick. Externally, this one will be differentiated from lesser siblings by dual chrome tailpipes, chrome-plated grille slats, and seventeen-inch wheels and tires, with sport seats and a leather sport steering wheel inside. Active Steering will be an option.