"The priority right now is a more affordable model underneath the M3," says Dr Segler.

Of course the 302bhp 135i coupe already provides quite a lot of sub-M3 high-performance fun, but a 1-series M could apparently either be aimed a little lower down, towards the Audi S3 corner of the market, or as a harder-edged, more focused alternative to the 135i.

Could it be too much to dream that this might actually mean a stripped-out, lightweight spiritual successor to the original E30 M3? Maybe, but hope springs eternal...

Power should come either from a massaged version of the 135i's twin-turbo or, more likely, from a high-performance version of that engine's successor, the new twin-scroll, single turbo TwinPower motor. Either way, expect a power output of around 330bhp.

And the name? There's one obvious choice, but we can't imagine BMW reviving the hallowed M1 moniker for anything other than a proper mid-engined supercar...

We won't find out whether BMW will come good on the 1-series M idea for a while, however - the new 1-series isn't due for a couple of years yet, and an M version would take a couple of years longer still to hit the showroom.