Of course, whenever you talk of performance, one needs to take into consideration the price of the vehicle, and this is where the new 135i truly comes into its own. My tester was nicely equipped with the premium package ($3,500) and the M package ($1,600) plus, yet it still struggled to reach $47,380. The base MSRP on the 135i coupe is $41,700. In my book, that's a lot of performance per dollar spent, especially when you consider whose moniker is on it.

Although it is slightly smaller than the next-in-line 3-Series, up front in the cockpit, it doesn't feel that small.

BMW has the reputation for producing true drivers' vehicles, and this one certainly doesn't fail them on that score. In fact, it handles like a small agile pocket rocket. Did I just say small? It's because that word could be deemed confusing when describing the new 135i. You see, although it is slightly smaller than the next-in-line 3-Series, up front in the cockpit, it doesn't feel that small. Yes, the rear seats might be a tad awkward to get into, but be honest now, how often does someone who owns a sports coupe like this carry rear-seat passengers?

No, this is not a family car by any stretch of the imagination. It is, however, perhaps the ideal vehicle for the upwardly mobile young man or woman who is just starting out in life and wants to have a little fun on the way up. It is certainly perfectly positioned as the first rung on the ladder of BMW ownership, which is something which I think the company understands only too well. You see, there is a certain customer loyalty that BMW enjoys and the new 1-Series is going to give a big boost to the number of new customers coming through the showroom doors.

Understanding and acting on this customer loyalty is something which BMW has truly mastered over the years. Think about it, start them off in a 1-Series, then move them up into a 3- or 5-Series at some point, and when the family comes along, maybe a sporty X SUV is in order. Whatever way you look at it, the feel of a BMW goes through its entire range, and to a certain extent, no customer should ever feel the need to stray from the brand. Now that's the old school way of thinking... grab the customer when they're young and own them for life!

No, this is not a family car by any stretch of the imagination.