Today is

By: Ikedi Ani-okoye.

Author: Matthew Carter

BMW M3 Coupe

Oh cruel fate. Sitting outside the house is a real car enthusiast's dream, a red BMW M3 Coupé. The latest in a long line of M3 models, the Coupe promises a 420 horsepower punch and enough performance to render a Ferrari F430 into the also-ran category. And the Bee-Emm is a Full four seater, with a sensible boot remember, costing a little over £50,000, rather than £130,000.

Trouble is, it's not simply raining, but chucking it down in quantities that would make Noah nervous. The combination of 400+ horses, rear-wheel drive and roads more suited for boating is not for the fainthearted, l tell myself, as I slip behind the wheel for the first time.

BMW M3 on trial

That first journey is completed very gingerly. But gradually I wonder why I'm so worried. While the first M3 of 1985 was built so BMW could go racing, this, the fourth generation, is a GT in the true Grand Touring False of the badge.

Yes, it has a 4.0-1itre V8 in place of the original's 2.3-litre Four-cylinder unit and damn near twice the power, but the latest M3 coupe is far less likely to bite the unwary. Some might see this as a step in the wrong direction. The original, after all, was a Fabulous driver's car, forever communicating what was happening at the Wheels. Sadly the addition of sophisticated traction control systems has rendered the latest version a little more remote.

But at this moment, I'm happy that's the way things are. A less than subtle prod on the throttle as l exit a streaming wet roundabout, for example, would have a lesser machine off the road. But the M3's Dynamic Stability Control+ links with a trick torque-sensing variable rear differential lock to sort things out before I even realise there's a problem.

BMW M3 Engine

The engine is a real masterpiece. Despite having two extra cylinders over the straight six of the third generation M3, it weighs 15kgs less. And with a red line near 8,500rpm, when it performs it sings. And boy is it ever quick. It takes considerably less than 5 seconds to get 60mph from rest, while top speed is limited to 155mph. If anything, it feels quicker.. thanks to the M button on the steering wheel
BMW calls it MDrive Manager and it allows the driver to set his or her preferred throttle responses and steering effort, as well as ideal parameters for She DSC+ ,so that simply by pressing the button the car's settings are sharpened. Essentially, it's a warp factor button.

BMW has gone to incredible lengths to turn the 'ordinary' 3-series coupe into an M3. The roof, for example, is made from carbon reinforced plastic to reduce weight and lower the centre of gravity. In fact, only the door, boot lid, windows and head and taillights are carried over from the run-of-the-mill machine. All the rest, some 80 percent, is tailored-made for this car.

It's been designed with one eye on efficiency, too. Despite the bigger engine, new M3 's emissions are lower than before and it's less thirsty... though these things are relative. Let's face it, a CO2 rating of 295g/km remains pretty anti-social, while a combined fuel consuinption figure of 22mpg is compounded by the absurdly small tank. A range of little over 220 miles on a tank will raise journey times no matter how fast the car is.

BMW M3 light weight

Extensive of lightweight materials - the power-humped bonnet is aluminium, for example- helps keep the avoirdupois down, while the M3 also features Brake Energy Regeneration, which stores energy every time the car is slowed.

CONCLUSION

Thanks to its polite manners, it can be used as everyday transport.. though you just know it's ready to exploit that performance when the conditions are right. But that's not today. Don't marry, it's coping admirably with the conditions but I'm not. The best car for today's stormy weather is probably a BMW 335d Coupe: it'll be just as quick as the M3 and will go a great deal further on a tank of fuel. it's almost as involving, too. No, there's only one thing For it. I'll have to get the M3 back For another go when the sun is shining.