This Custom Hot Hatch Is A Wild Mixtape Of BMW M Cars

Sep 16, 2023

A car collector took it upon themselves to create the ultimate BMW hot hatch, and the result of their work is truly amazing to see.

What is the perfect recipe for a hot hatch? This has long been debatable, but the perfect ingredients appear to be a huge powertrain up front, a manual gearbox in the middle, and power being sent to the rear (or front - it is debatable, after all). There have been many perfect examples of hot hatches throughout history: the Volkswagen Golf GTI, Renault's insanely wild V6 Clio Sport, Peugeot's iconic 205 GTI. But although front-wheel drive has been the most common, a rear-wheel drive pocket-rocket provides even more excitement for those wanting a proper ‘hot’ hatchback experience.

Enter BMW, who opted for a rear-wheel drive setup for one of their greatest hot hatches, the F20 1 Series. The M135i, for instance, was one of the fastest hatchbacks ever to go into mass production. It was so quick in fact, Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson even lost control through aquaplaning when going over 120 mph. It's safe to say BMW know a thing or two about making a truly incredible hot hatchback. However, for ‘Mr. Saugmotoren’, BMW didn't go far enough, and so he set out to create the ultimate BMW hatchback.

Instagram poster ‘Mr. Saugmotoren’ has documented his incredible project of turning a conventional 1 Series into an ultimate hot hatchback. He started off with a simple, ordinary 116i from the F21 generation of the 1 Series and ripped out its mechanical and interior innards to create something truly astonishing. The end result was his custom-made BMW M2 CS hatchback.

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Gone was the inline-4 engine from the 116i and in its place was the beating heart from an E92 M3: a naturally aspirated 4.0 liter V8 engine. This V8 engine produces a whopping 414 bhp and could reach an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. Most impressively, to go from a dead stop to 60 mph would take just 4.8 seconds. This engine – codenamed the S65 block – is a true masterpiece from BMW, and 'Saugmotoren' decided to throw it into an F21 1 Series.

Truth be told, it was an incredibly smart move by 'Saugmotoren' to put the M3's engine in the car, for this V8 is one of the greatest engines ever produced. It's an engine that provides plenty of acceleration and high-end grunt, as it could rev to an astonishing 8500 rpm. Coupled with the fact this M2 CS Hatchback is fitted with the rear subframe, brakes and axle control arms from a BMW M4, and is being shifted with a manual transmission, and – similar to the coupe M2 CS – this hot hatch turns into an ultimate track weapon.

So, its creator put the engine from one of the greatest M3's ever made into the hot hatch chassis. Then, as a cherry on top, put the handling and transmission components on from other M cars to make this M2 CS Hatchback a truly incredible drivers’ car. On the face of it, 'Saugmotoren' ticked the main criteria for making a hot hatch: it provides an exhilarating driving experience.

However, 'Saugmotoren' didn't just stop with the mechanical side of things. He went a step further and altered the physical design of the F21 1 Series. Based on the M2 CS, which is often considered peak modern BMW design, its creator retrofitted the bumper, headlights, kidney grills, hood, and flared arches to the F21 hatchback in order to give his M2 CS Hatchback that ultra-race-like design. The alloys wheels are also tastefully repainted in the same gold color found on the coupe M2 CS. Then, to create a handsome contrast effect, 'Saugmotoren' had the main body resprayed in ‘frozen deep green’ matte paint, the same found on the amazing BMW M5 CS.

From the outside, the end result is staggering. His M2 CS Hatchback looks mean, aggressive, yet – like the M2 itself – still maintains a subtle aesthetic that it could be used every day. The same sentiment is echoed in the interior, where the ordinary 1 Series trimmings and seats have been replaced by the carbon bucket seats found in the G87 M2. Having them trimmed in brown leather and alcantara gives the interior of this custom-made M2 CS Hatchback an evocative and exciting presence. It makes a statement, but looks like a comfortable and well-equipped cabin to drive around in.

RELATED: 10 Things All Gearheads Should Know About The BMW M2

It's indisputable that the work done by 'Saugmotoren' is truly incredible. It's an award-worthy effort, converting a bog-standard 1 Series into a track-bred V8 powered monster that's still practical and convenient enough to daily around town. However, this is not the first time a project such as this has occurred.

When BMW launched the E39 M5, the car community couldn't wait to see the wagon version, but to no avail. Since then, owners of E39 wagons have taken it upon themselves to put the V8 block from an M5 into their family-friendly wagon and created their own E39 M5 Touring. The results are always incredible to see.

‘Mr. Saugmotoren’ has, like those E39 owners, demonstrated that such projects can be done. The masterful thing is how the M2 CS Hatchback he created looks as if it could have been produced by BMW themselves. A testament to his craftsmanship. He, without question, ticked the criteria for creating the perfect hot hatch.

Sam is a writer and car enthusiast who has a passionate interest in both the automotive industry and motorsports. A petrolhead from a young age, he enjoys reading and writing about all-things car related, going on roadtrips, and restoring his classic BMW E34 5 Series.