The M Coupe's handling is as prodigious as its power. Riding on front struts, rear multiple links and anti-roll bars at both ends, the car's cornering ability is beyond reproach. The chassis is incredibly stiff and large P225/45ZR18 front and oversized P255/40ZR18 rear tires provide seemingly endless grip. Throw in the laser-like precision of the steering, a variable electronic rear differential lock and perfect front-to-rear weight distribution (50.2/49.8) and the M feels like it pivots around your bottom whenever it's tossed into a corner. Few cars are quite as well dialled in.

The M Coupe's brakes are impressive. The two-piece, cross-drilled rotors banish fade as they stop the car from 100 km/h in just 34 metres. Along with the anti-lock brakes comes a very good stability control system. In keeping with the M brand's sporty approach, it waits in the wings until the last possible moment so the driver is allowed to have a lot of fun before it reins things in. It can also be turned off. Normally, turning the system off might be considered foolhardy; in the M's case, when the back end does break away, it's easy to catch because driver and car feel and function as one.

The cabin's cosy nature also means storage is at a premium. There's precious little interior storage space and the trunk will carry only 8.6 cubic feet of stuff, which is barely enough for a dirty weekend. Likewise, if you're planning on stopping for a coffee, don't bother -- the cup holders that spring out of the dash are just not up to the job.