A Little Carbon Fiber Never Hurt Anybody – Just Ask BMW’s M135i

Since hot hatchbacks are still a thing, BMW saw fit to show off an M135i xDrive model at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, loaded with the automaker’s lightweight M bits.

The show car is equipped with a glossy black kidney grille, a custom chin spoiler, canards on either side of the bumper, side skirts, tinted windows and a set of matte black 18-inch wheels. BMW also cheekily wrote down ‘The 1’ on the license plate holder.

Yet, what helps the car stand out most are its forged carbon fiber elements – such as the mirror casings or that massive rear diffuser; both of which add some charisma to what is otherwise nothing more than a decent-looking hatchback.

While the interior is missing an Alcantara M Performance steering wheel, it still features a dynamic dual-tone aesthetic, bucket seats and a carbon fiber-like trim element stuck between the vents and the infotainment display.

Then there’s the performance. Thanks to a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder unit pumping out 302 HP (306 PS) and 332 lb-ft (450 Nm) of torque, the BMW M135i xDrive is anything but slow. On paper, it can accelerate from zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.8 seconds, before maxing out at 155 mph (250 km/h).

Also read: BMW Unlikely To Chase Mercedes-AMG’s A45 S With 1-Series M Hatch

As a direct rival to the likes of the Audi S3 and the Mercedes-AMG A35, the M135i xDrive is by no means a match for the very best hot hatchbacks, such as the RS3 or the A45. However, as long as customers are happy with its looks, we can’t imagine too many of them complaining about a car that has a sub 5-second acceleration time.

The BMW M135i xDrive has a starting price of 48,900 euros ($54,000) in Germany.