CERTAIN to go down in history as one of the best-executed automotive anomalies, the BMW M140i is like one of those unlikely recipes dreamt up by experimental chef Heston Blumenthal.

Let’s just recap: this is a rear-drive small hatchback powered by a turbocharged straight-six petrol engine with eight-speed automatic transmission (a six-speed manual is a no-cost option).

Against a backdrop of the looming rumoured switch to front-drive for the next-generation 1 Series, the above is arguably sufficient to earn the M140i future classic status.

Yes, it’s cramped and practicality suffers due to the packaging of its rear-drive layout, but the M140i feels blissfully uncompromised when simply trundling round town – especially given how downright brilliant it is at blasting along a challenging back road.