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Give us some curves! Merging onto the off-ramp, the ACS1 is staying remarkably level as we arc around the curve. There is next to no body roll, yet the ride remains pliant and comfortable despite the fitment of an AC Schnitzer spring kit and sport suspension system. The 225/35-19 rubber mounted on AC Schnitzer’s 19-inch Type IV BiColor alloys keeps a firm lock on the pavement even when we deliberately try to unsettle the car’s composure with short, sharp bursts of throttle. We feel the back end start to come into play and the ACS1 begin to squirm and wiggle, but it’s not frightening and never feels anywhere close to being out of control. Instead, it’s more a matter of the ACS1 feeling like it’s bursting at the seams with power, itching to go faster and dive into corners harder. The ACS1 is alive and visceral, almost like a classic car in that you can break grip and find it again several times over, all in the same corner. After only a few minutes of driving, the balance between throttle and steering gives the feeling that you’ve owned the car for decades. Forget about needing to immediately jump on the brakes—though the standard six-piston front-brake calipers provide incredible stopping power whenever you need them. And that’s a good thing, because at 4,575 lbs. the 135i Coupe isn’t exactly a bantamweight. It’s only 11 lbs. lighter than the AC Schnitzer-tuned M3 Coupe (the ACS3) we drove the day before, but its smaller size makes it feel much more chuckable. Having driven both cars back-to-back, we find it amazing how substantial the difference in size feels from the driver’s seat. The ACS1 is more intimate, even if the cabin’s serious styling and large amount of black plastic give the impression that BMW poured its money into engineering rather than pretty, soft-touch surfaces. Space in the rear is also tight: There was a good reason that the 1 Series hatchback was dubbed the “world’s largest two-seater” upon its debut in 2004. The rear is habitable, though not for long drives or by very large people. Much has been written about the 1 Series 128i and 135i as heirs to the classic 2002. Though the 1 Series is much more attractive and far less controversial than some recent BMWs, its styling lacks the delicacy that made the boxy and upright lines of the 2002 so timeless. Still, this author thinks the 1 Series Coupe and Convertible are seriously good-looking cars, with personal preference favoring the Coupe. Luckily for those who already like the car’s appearance, AC Schnitzer has wisely left the 135i’s exterior pretty much as-is, restricting changes to the replacement of the front and rear bumpers with its own handsome pieces and giving the option of a new rear spoiler (too boy-racer for our taste). Inside, AC Schnitzer has sprinkled its usual tweaks of upgraded steering wheel, handbrake lever and aluminum pedal set. If you want scissor doors and purple carbon fiber dash inserts, this is definitely not the car for you.
A mini M3?
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