SIX GOES INTO ONE; The hottest 1 Series yet is seriously good.(News)

Byline: MATT DAVIS

BMW's 130i has more power and is faster than the 330i, 530i or 630i. The car is a prime candidate for "best handling, best equipped'' compact premium passenger car worldwide, thanks largely to its long wheelbase, solid track stance and rear-wheel drive. Unfortunately, we do not get to experience the fun of a 130i in America until 2008, when the four-door and convertible variants arrive.

Despite initial scuttlebutt to the contrary, the weird-to-the-U.S. 1 Series has been a fair success. Capacity at the Regensburg plant in Germany is 150,000 units per year, and the 1 Series ended its first 12 months with 136,000 total sales. The aim is to maintain a rate of at least 10,000 cars per month.

Roughly one in 20, or 6000-plus 1 Series cars per year will be the 130i. This model is pushing the 1 Series' status beyond entry-level, with a starting price in Germany of e32,500 after taxes (more than $40,000 U.S.). Opt for the M Sport package, with 17- or 18-inch double-spoke wheels, aerodynamic bits, sport suspension and seats, M shift lever, aluminum interior trim and Nappa leather-and add another $2,600.

The BMW plant in Steyr, Austria, provides this new version of the famous 3.0-liter straight-six. Thanks to a liberal use of magnesium in the crankcase and cylinder head, the power-unit weight drops to 22 pounds. The addition of ValveTronic variable valve timing and Vanos camshaft adjustment as standard equipment improves fuel consumption by 12 percent even while increasing muscle to 261 hp from the 254 hp produced by the 3, 5 and 6 Series unit.

Most of the additional horses are derived from the twin-barrel sport exhaust combined with the natural airflow patterns through the engine compartment. Torque is up from 221 to 232 lb-ft between 2500 and 4000 rpm.

Using the 130i M Sport's six-speed manual, 0 to 62 mph reportedly comes in a lively 6.2 seconds, equaling the VW Golf R32 with its optional DSG transmission. Munich plans to plop the new, improved 3.0-liter into the X3 over ...