New BMW M3 review, test drive

You see, in the big M5, the effects of extra kilos are eased by adding more power, but that also changes the nature of the beast. In the new M3, power is balanced finely with weight. In fact, the new car is lighter than the outgoing car and even lighter than the current 335i. It feels it too. On the unfamiliar and unpredictable Algarve circuit, the M3 was light on its feet, springing from the outside of the corners and into the apex. It bounded confidently through switchbacks. It braked hard - pop-your-eyes-out hard - without shimmying too much. You could sense the tail wagging but only enough to add to the excitement, and not get your blood cold with fear.

You can get the rear to squirm quite easily, all you need to do is put your foot down. That’s because the new M3 is more powerful and has a lot more torque on offer than before. For the record, 425bhp is developed between 5500 and 7300rpm and the 56kgm of torque is on offer from 1850rpm, all the way to 5500rpm. And there lies the bitter sweetness of the new twin-turbo in-line six engine. The driveability is handy when you are driving down to the shopping district, and it also forgives you for having used a higher gear to exit corners without losing too much time. It will even rev to a heady 7600rpm, but that isn’t the same 8300rpm limit as in the old car. The throttle response is linear enough. The exhaust volume and bass are companionable, not intoxicating. No burbles, gurgles or rasps from this in-line six to make you grin.