BMW’s 1 Series M Coupe went on to become a big hit for its maker, but some years earlier, the company had already been playing with the same basic idea. In the mid-1990s, BMW liked the idea of a car with a compact body, rear-wheel drive traction, a serious inline-six engine, and a lightweight pose. And while its 1996 prototype would later define the appeal of the iconic 1M Coupe, BMW M ultimately decided that it would not proceed with the experiment.
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