Can a car ever be too good? Too quick? Some people think so, and cite BMW's M cars as an example. These models generate so much performance and grip that they need to be driven at incredibly high speeds to really appreciate them. The new 1 Series M Coupe is a bit different, though.
On the surface it doesn't appear to represent much of a sea change in the M Sport philosophy. It's based on the humble 1 Series but with wider wings, a deep front spoiler and side skirts, and lowered ride height. Underneath, many of the important bits have been cribbed from the M3.
The M Coupe's motor has plenty of puff, too. The 3.0-litre twin turbocharged six-cylinder engine produces a walloping 335bhp and 332lb ft of torque. What's more, that power is delivered in great big turbocharged gobs and to the accompaniment of a raucous exhaust note, which is a pretty addictive cocktail.
There's also loads of grip, so you can throw the M Coupe into corners with confidence, and the super-sized brakes mean you can scrub off speed like you've driven into a swimming pool. So far, so typically M Division.
The difference with the M Coupe is that it has a balance and interactivity that allow the driver to really engage with it at merely brisk speeds as well as banzai ones. That's unusual in an M car – and welcome.
Still, as quick as the car is, you’ll have to be even quicker: there are only 450 earmarked for the UK, and half of those are already sold.
It's a heady mix. Then you look at the price and it's clear that not everything has changed at BMW. It's a whopping £40k, and extras that you'd expect to be included cost more – including £2000 for satellite-navigation, £515 for metallic paint and an eye-watering £545 for Bluetooth connectivity.
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