BMW has certainly gone the extra mile with the Z4 M Coupe.
Unlike a lot of coupes on the market this one is definitely not a fast motor that aims to be all things to all drivers.
It takes pride in being an unashamed performance car that is as much at home on the track as it is on the road.
For instance, you are looking at a 343bhp 24-valve six-cylinder engine that can hurl this two seater from a standstill to 62mph in five seconds and a 155mph electronically-limited top speed.
This has to be one of the definitive cars for those who love performance motoring. As soon as you touch the starter the engine bursts into life with a throaty rumble and you know you are in for an eventful drive.
BMW designers and engineers have created what they like to think of as a pocket GT.
The car has been designed to feel 'shrink-wrapped' around its components and occupants to create the tightest-packaged high-performance long-distance two-seater coupe possible.
Like any BMW bearing the coveted M badge it has to deliver and it does so without fail. The addition of the Coupé's exceptionally rigid body shell ensures that the new fixed-head offers unsurpassed levels of traction and agility for a supremely impressive performance experience.
Handling is pin-sharp and the power steering is beautifully weighted to give enhanced road feel.
Dont expect a soft ride with this one. It is harsh - but not to the extent that it will spoil the enjoyment.
All the time you drive it, you have to bear in mind that there is a lot of the track car about this model and pedal to the metal gearchanges in the lower ratios can be pyrotechnic.
But that is not to say that it is a wild child when driven in everyday traffic because it does have a docile side.
But shopping car it is not. You could just about get away with very minimal luggage for two in the boot but not much more.
This is a car not just for BMW M-car fans but for the driver who wants pure refined performance instantly on tap.
Much of its massive specification is away from the eye's gaze. For instance it features brake drying, brake tensioning, hill-start assistance and much more from its Dynamic Stability Control plus system, proving that there is as much thought goes into stopping this thoroughbred as there is to powering it.
From the front, the only visual difference from the Roadster is the 'double bubble' contoured roof. This serves as an aerodynamic aid as well as offering additional headroom to taller occupants.
The BMW Motorsport engine easily surpasses the magical 100hp per litre benchmark for naturally-aspirated high performance engines. Maximum torque of 365Nm is achieved at 4,900rpm and, highlighting the powerplant's flexibility, 80 per cent is available below 2,000rpm.
You dont really think about fuel economy with a car such as this, but never the less it returns a satisfactory combined consumption figure of 23.3mpg.
It also has a little hidden secret - BMW's Variable M differential.
Unlike a 'limited-slip diff', the Variable M delivers a fully variable zero to 100 per cent of available power to the wheel that can most use it in any given situation.
It works by using a pump to generate internal pressure when a wheel starts to spin. This pressure is applied to a clutch that transfers power across the rear axle to the wheel with most grip. The result? Lateral cornering acceleration that is higher than is permitted by a conventional differential, a limited slip differential or any form of traction control system.
It is, without doubt, a niche model and will be a fairly rare sight on British roads. BMW UK expects to sell approximately 1,000 Z4 Coupés in 2006, of which only 200 are expected to be the high-performance M variant.
BMW's styling of the Z3 Coupe was not one of their best efforts, but the Z4 Coupe is streets ahead in looks. Now BMW has a two seater that can compete on level terms with Porsche.
FAST FACTS
BMW Z4 M Coupe
Price: £41,285
Mechanical: 343bhp, 3,246cc, 6cyl petrol engine driving rear wheels via 6spd manual gearbox.
Max speed: 155mph
0-62mph: 5 secs
Combined mpg: 23.3
Insurance group: 20
CO2 emissions: 292g/km
BiK rating: 35%
Warranty: 3yrs/unlimited mileage, 3yrs paint, 12yrs anti-rust