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An unusual, bold car comparison comes from InsideLine. The US magazine decided to compare the new BMW 1Magainst the Dodge Challenger SRT8. As they point at the beginning of the article, the report not meant to be an apple to apple comparison, but rather a choice between two cars offered at a similar price.

The American muscle comes powered by a 6.4 liter naturally aspirated V8 producing 470 hp and 470 pound-feet of torque. BMW 1M runs with a 3.0 liter six-cylinder twin-turbo engine producing 335 horsepower.

Let’s have a look a quick look, followed by the full article.

“So it has a 135-hp advantage over the 1M, but the Challenger also weighs 4,257 pounds. No surprise then that it produces remarkably similar numbers at the drag strip: 4.7 seconds to 60 (4.4 seconds with rollout) and 12.9 seconds to the 1,320-foot mark with a trap speed of 111.0 mph. Wheelspin, unsurprisingly, is a problem when trying to twist 255/45ZR20 Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires. So is wheel hop.

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Traditionally when running the canyons of Southern California the faster car is the one with the faster driver. That theory doesn’t apply here. Put your mom in the 1 Series M Coupe and she’ll be at the lookout on Mulholland so far ahead of you and the Challenger that she’ll have time for tea and her arthritis medicine. With M Dynamic Mode enabled, wheelspin and slip angle are expertly controlled, and driving fast — insanely, stupid fast — is an exercise in precision only available in a carefully metered instrument like an M car.

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Its size and power mean the M Coupe is built for carving corners and shaving apexes while the larger, heavier Challenger fishtails heroically a quarter-mile behind. But hey, powerslides are fun. Really fun.

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A casual conversation between editors sealed its fate:

“You should drive the M Coupe before it goes away. It’s good. Really good.”

“I’ve got meetings all day and something for the kid tonight. Will I have any fun driving it home? I don’t have time for Mulholland.”

“Nah. Unless you drive it hard on the right road it’s no different than a 135.”

“OK, I’ll take the Challenger.”

2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 3920 – 60 (sec)4.5 (4.3 with rollout)4.7 (4.4 with rollout)1/4-mile (sec @ mph)12.9 @ 107.712.9 @ 111.0Skid pad (lateral g)0.960.91Slalom (mph)71.366.6Braking 60-0 (ft)103106Curb weight, as tested (lb)3,3464,257

Full article at InsideLine