"M" is what BMW puts on its cars to say: "More." More zip, more pizzazz, more go, more stop, more for a serious driver to sink a foot into. The Z4 M Coupe is no exception. Or maybe the "M" stands for "much" because there is such a muchness about this coupe. It is fast, agile, capable and ready to enthrall any driver who can appreciate its direct simplicity and clean competency.

The Z4 M has accepted certain donations from the remarkable M3 coupe such as basic underpinnings and road-loving suspension and the awe-inspiring 3.2 liter inline six cylinder engine. The stated horsepower is 330 and the torque an admirable 262 lbs/ft (albeit not fully realized until 4900 rpm.)

Importantly, the Z4 M has also rejected certain gifts from the M3. For instance the SMG (sequential) transmission is not even an option here. And there is no iDrive to delight or befuddle. Nor is there anything stirred in with the questionable intention of improving BMW’s benchmark steering. The Z4 M’s steering seems to come to us unadorned, undiluted and as responsive and communicative as BMW’s once were before bright Bavarian engineers set about to improve the egg.

Their "active steering" is absent here; complicated variable steering ratios are absent. Even electric steering (like on the M-less Z4) is absent. This one is hydraulic. OK, so the fancy stuff has its place on other BMWs but in this M we have simple direct, pay attention control. With a special addition: a steering wheel as fat as a balloon tire on a kid’s bike. Taking hold is like grabbing a wrist giving new meaning to "handful." I like it, but not everyone does.

The gearbox is similarly direct. It’s a smooth six-speed manual that, as you roll your foot between brake and throttle for downshifts, makes you believe that you are indeed in the driver’s seat.

BMW has been waxing increasingly successful while I’ve felt it’s been slipping into a, well, if not softness at least reduced edginess. The new 3 Series gets raves and awards from my colleagues but I yearn for the way the older, smaller 3 Series so much more eagerly took to tight turns. I admired the hell out of what the BMW engineers were doing but I resented it, too. "Don’t dazzle me." I begged. "Just let me drive."

The Z4 M does that.

But BMW doesn’t just turn you loose with a small, short-coupled, high-powered car without some kind assistance. Invisible training wheels are thankfully present. But they are helpful assists to driving, not a move to take over the task. A viscous limited-slip differential keeps the rear wheels from tossing grip back and forth in a disconcerting manner and DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) unobtrusively brings the car back from the hairy edges of extreme oversteer or understeer. Unless of course if you want to let it all hang out like the back end were on casters. Just shut off the DSC.

Another choice you can make as you can with most M cars: select the throttle response appropriate to your intentions. "Normal" is the default setting but you can push a button and get "Sport." That will change the ratio of pedal movement to throttle opening and give you instant access to peak performance. (BMW has a variable valve timing system that is peak indeed.) In my experience I found "Normal" to suit all of the situations in which I found myself. "Sport" seemed too touchy for the normal road use (therefore, select "normal," silly.) (CONTINUE...)