Report: BMW 1 Series M beats M3 around Hockenheim... by a hair

[ahmed_7erzon]

There are few things more satisfying for a younger sibling than besting their older kin. Be it a hard-fought round of Stratego or a bare-knuckle brawl, putting an elder brother or sister in their place can be more satisfying than winning the lottery. In this spirit, German magazine Sport Auto just finished pitting the new 2012 1 Series M Coupe up against BMW's venerable M3. The pair locked horns around Hockenheim in a battle for ultimate supremacy that saw the M3 do the deed in 1:14.2. The M Coupe, meanwhile, managed to lap the track a hair quicker at 1:14.1.

That gave the newcomer to the game the overall win and put it just one tenth of a second behind metal like the Porsche Cayman S on the famous track. Is this conclusive evidence that the 1 Series M Coupe is the better performance buy than the legendary M3? Not necessarily. After all, this is just one comparison with one magazine. Still, the fact that the baby BMW can get within striking distance of its predecessor with two fewer cylinders is a testament to the vehicle's prowess.