There was once a time when slapping an M badge onto a BMW actually meant something, the resultant car being a true ‘ultimate driving machine’. However, things went a little wayward when the German giant started making cars like the X5 M and X6 M. Sure, they’ve proved to be pretty good sales successes, but they’re not the type of car to make our teeth itch though are they?

The BMW 1-Series M changes all that and marks a return to the M Division doing what it does best. Just 22 examples of this little beasty are in the Middle East region and they’ve all been sold to lucky owners. And we’re getting our hands on one of them very very soon. Stay posted to find out whether BMW have come good and whether Porsche and its fancy new Cayman R should be worried.