As balanced as the 1 Series handles, I’ve always found something awry about its styling. The snub-nosed front end ends abruptly; the tail looks unfinished, especially compared to the 3 Series. The headlights are too big for a car that’s about 2 inches shorter and narrower than a Scion tC.

The 1 Series M, on the other hand, looks distinct from either car. With extruded fenders to accommodate an M3-spec suspension – and add some 2 inches of width – the 1 Series M looks race-ready. Will people pay close to $50,000 for it? We’ll see.

BMW says the cabin controls have been refined, but I’m hard-pressed to see the difference. Cabin materials remain a shade below the 3 Series, and without seat belt extenders – which the 3 Series coupe has, albeit not the best-executed ones – it’s a long reach to the B-pillars to buckle in.