Not too big, but way 2 much fun

Singapore

For years now, I've been adamant that size doesn't matter, but like all men I seem to have married a sceptic. At least now I have the BMW M240i to make my case for me.

It's a pocket rocket that had me rubbing my hands all through the long months between its global unveiling last November and its launch here, owing to the fact that it embodies everything a right-thinking driving enthusiast values in a car. It has the correct shape (coupe), the right number of doors (2), the proper size (compact) and even the ideal number of cylinders (6).

BMW itself has said all sorts of promising things about the new 2 Series Coupe, of which the M240i is currently the speediest.

Christopher Weil, the head of exterior design at BMW, describes it as a car "designed for our fans". Ironically, that's the reason it looks distinct from all the other BMWs on sale today. You expect to see double headlights on a BMW, but this car's single lamps are a nod to the BMW 2002, an iconic machine from the time of Abba that kicked off the brand's reputation for sporty fun.

Weil says the 2 Series has a classic rather than retro approach to design. "It's still on the modern side, but we have the classical BMW genes: a long hood, the wide kidney grille, we have the short overhangs and as you can see with a wide body, we have a very good stance," he told me.

More to the point, Emmanuel Varga, the car's product manager, describes it as a "drift machine", meaning his chassis guys made it naughty. Sure enough, the M240i just leaps into bends with all the enthusiasm of a heavily-caffeinated puppy.

It tends to keep you on your toes somewhat, because the relatively short length and squat stance give it the ability to nip rapidly from corner to corner. Yet, it doesn't dart about scarily. The steering feels meaty enough to give you a nice sense of what the front tyres are doing, filling you with a sense of confidence, and the suspension keeps everything on an even keel, so even though the ride is firm enough to set your softer parts jiggling, everything feels solidly under control.

Mind you, I never did find out if it's a drift machine, because you need a track to work out these things safely. But the M240i does have xDrive, BMW's four-wheel drive system, so there's a good chance that if you have a tail-slidey moment in the car, it'll do all sorts of stuff to help you out, sending the engine's power to the wheels that have the most traction and that sort of thing.

As for the engine itself, it may not be BMW's most powerful, but if you ask me it is the brand's best. It's smooth and eager, and when you rev it hard it rewards your ears with the sonorous sounds that only an engine with 6 cylinders all in a row can make.

The M240i is always in a hurry, too. Just 4.3 seconds stand between your flooring the accelerator and 100 km/h, which not long ago was the stuff of Porsche's sportier efforts. That said, it's surprising that a car this size with all-wheel drive and such a brawny engine isn't even quicker.

A quick glance at the press material reveals that it weighs nearly 1.7 tonnes (the M240i I mean, not the press material), which is an awful lot for a car this size. The xDrive hardware undoubtedly adds plenty of flab, but there's also the fact that the 2 Series Coupe is actually built on the underpinnings of larger cars like the 3 Series, 4 Series and even the X3, a big and comfy sport utility vehicle.

That's a plus because the M240i shares those cars' rather plush cabins and excellent road manners, along with their excellent touchscreen interface. The back is short on headroom though, so I'd consider the 2 Series Coupe a 4-seater only if 2 of your companions happen to be built along elfin lines.

Mind you, for the price you would have every right to expect more car than this, and there are certainly bigger or faster options around. But then the M240i's brand of exuberance is a rare quality these days, and the engine alone is the kind you'll bore your grandchildren about when cars no longer make vroom-vroom noises.

For S$92,000 less, there is the 220i Coupe, which is less powerful, less sporty looking and less musical sounding. I haven't driven it, and while it's likely to be agile and refined too, I suspect it's liable to leave you wishing you'd spent the extra money to take the more exciting M240i home instead. Size might not be everything, but strength still counts for a heck of a lot.

BMW M240i xDrive Coupe

Engine 2,998 cc, in-line 6, turbocharged Power 374 hp at 5500-6500 rpm Torque 500 Nm at 1900-5000 rpm Gearbox 8-speed automatic 0-100km/h 4.3 seconds Top Speed 250 km/h (limited) Fuel Efficiency 8.9 L/100 km Agent Performance Munich Autos Price S$353,888 with COE Available Now