The Z4 M Coupe tested here shares its free-revving 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder enginewith the recently introduced Z4 M Roadster. It produces 330 hp and 262 pound-feet of torque that run vigorously to an 8,000 rpm redline. The base Z4 3.0si Coupe packs enough performance for most drivers, so think of the Z4 M Coupe as the most-aggressive and singularly focused BMW sports car.

The new M Coupe’s shape certainly is more successful than the previous-generation car’s (although I will confess to being a fan of that one, too). BMW expects the new coupe to account for one-quarter of Z4 M sales, whereas last time, four M Roadsters were sold for every M Coupe that found a home.
As was the case previously, the new coupe is offered in M and standard Z4 strength. The latter is sold with the 255-hp, 3.0-liter engine only and not the 215-hp 3.0-liter that is also available in the Z4 droptop.

Building a hardtop version of a roadster seems counterintuitive, as people like convertibles, but BMW consistently places engineering over popularity. With the 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe, BMW relies on people to appreciate the performance of the car rather than whether you can get a suntan in it. And the M Coupe performs fantastically, with an engine that sounds angry when the rpms get significant.
But this isn’t a stripped-down speed machine–the M Coupe gets a full raft of cabin tech to make the car a helpful partner in everyday driving. Our test car shipped with a pop-up navigation screen, Bluetooth cell phone integration, and a thumping stereo system that handles MP3 CDs.
The M Coupe gave us an adrenaline-filled week, but it’s not without drawbacks. The rudimentary interface for the cabin gadgets makes it seem like the engineers, in a fit of pique over all the bad press about iDrive, only put about five minutes of work into it. And you can have much more fun with the M Coupe by turning off the overly aggressive traction control, which doesn’t let you get away with anything. The suspension also felt a little rubbery where we expected a rigid sports car feel.

BMW’s twin-kidney grille is one of the car kingdom’s most recognizable facial features. Special M touches are a more-aggressive, below-the-bumper bib in front, tricolor M badges adorning the flanks and tail, and no less than four large exhaust pipes aimed out the back like small-caliber cannons.
The roof sweeps rakishly rearward to strike an elegant visual balance with the long hood. The cocked-and-ready profile whispers “come hither” to every car enthusiast. The Z4 M Coupe’s shape is such a distinctive departure from a traffic stream teeming with SUVs and innocuous sedans that it’s a powerful magnet for even the most jaded eyes.