G-Power G1 V8 Hurricane: 600hp BMW 1M

Madcap tuner G-Power has revealed its latest update of the BMW 1 Series M Coupe. It’s called the G1 Hurricane, and it’s got a 600hp supercharged V8.

But it doesn’t come cheap. G-Power has also announced this monster of a miniature coupe is set to cost €141,177. That’s currently around £112,619. Wowzers.

First Drive Review: BMW 1 M Coupe (2011 onwards)

G-Power boosts BMW 1M to 435hp

So then, what do you get for all that money?

Biggest and most significant change is the one under the bonnet. G-Power has thrown out the 340hp turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six of the standard car and replaced it with the engine it says should have been there in the first place – the 4.0-litre V8 from the BMW M3.

The reasoning for this is fairly straightforward – the 1M already has front and rear suspension components from the M3, so why not the engine? It seems G-Power didn’t think the naturally aspirated V8’s off the shelf output of 420hp was quite up to the job, however, so added a custom supercharger install as well.

G-Power is well known for this kind of thing, having previously produced ludicrously powerful versions of the M5, M6, X6 and M3 (most of which remain completely unmatched anywhere in the aftermarket). For the 1M a little more work was required, due to the compact nature of the engine bay.

The system is entirely tailor made – including the cast aluminium airbox, which house a racing air intake, resonator pipes, and a vital water-cooling system that keeps boost temperatures down to an optimum level.

A handmade stainless steel exhaust system helps minimise backpressure to keep the engine breathing freely.

The result is 600hp at 7,800rpm. But that’s actually not the impressive part. By 3,000rpm, the supercharger means this 1 Series is already producing as much power as a standard M3. From 5,000rpm until the redline it also offers 40% more torque than that car – and this despite the 428lb ft peak arriving at 3,800rpm.

All this, and the engine still revs to 8,300rpm. What a way to melt the driven rear tyres. If there’s anything left of the stability control, we’re assuming it’s been moved to a home for the infirm by now.

The quoted raw performance is sensational. 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds is one thing, but the G1 V8 Hurricane does 0-124mph in just 12.7, and has a top speed in excess of 200mph. Even though we shudder to think what the 1M’s aerodynamics are like at this speed, its maker claims this is the fastest 1 Series in the world.

It also says the car accelerates like “being dragged by a bungee cord”. Yet specific fuel consumption is also improved; we’re guessing that’s power-for-power, rather than overall.

Helping to smooth progress a little, G-Power has also fitted the M3’s DCT paddleshift gearbox, as well as bespoke “GM1-RS Clubsport” fully adjustable coil-over suspension. The ceramic brakes, meanwhile, seem less of a luxury and more of a necessity here.

The wheels are 20-inch G-Power Silverstone Diamonds, shod with Michelin Pilot Super Sports. The bonnet is vented carbonfibre with a (very necessary) bulging power dome; there’s a matching carbonfibre boot lip spoiler at the back. The G1’s interior is finished in leather – to an enormous and painstaking extent.

G-Power has built the G1 V8 Hurricane as an early 30th anniversary present to itself (the company was established in 1983 – what do you mean you’ve never heard of them?). As such, it will also build only 30 examples of the car.

Given the cash, we would. Wouldn’t you?

On Bing: see images of the BMW 1 Series M Coupe

Find out how much a used BMW 1 Series costs on Auto Trader

First Drive Review: BMW 1 M Coupe (2011 onwards)

G-Power boosts BMW 1M to 435hp