TO THE POINTWhat’s New? M-power engine, M-massaged transmission, M-specific brakes, M-tweaked suspension, M-badged trim, and acceleration to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. Selling Points: Acceleration, braking, handling, steering, styling Deal Breakers: Visibility, uncomfortable interior, tiny trunk Our Advice: Buy the 2006 BMW M Coupe because you love to drive, not because you love being seen in it.
Think Moon Bloodgood wearing Victoria’s Secret, and you’ll get a sense of the new 2006 BMW M Coupe. This car is striking, alluring, clearly something meant for going fast and having fun. Its existence is somewhat of a surprise, though, given that BMW tried a similar formula several years ago and failed to find an audience. Indeed, the original Z3 and M Coupes’ brave two-seat “shooting brake” design didn’t go over well in America, selling in low numbers only to the most faithful devotees of the blue-and-white roundel, virtually guaranteeing that they will become classics a few decades from now. With their fixed roofs and mini-wagon greenhouses married to the sexy Z3 or M roadster’s bodywork, the Z3 and M Coupes were about as appealing as Moon Bloodgood wearing a pair of plus-sized plaid L.L. Bean pajamas.