LAOIS MOTORING: Short Drives - the BMW M3 competition

Aside from that somewhat controversial huge front grille the new M3 has received numerous accolades since its launch and from my time behind the wheel they are all well deserved.

My test car was finished in a distinctive metallic green with a black leather interior and it all looked very well indeed.

The M3 is the high performance driver focused version of the BMW 3 Series and is powered by a 510 bhp 3.0 litre twin turbo. It delivers performance with a capital P hitting 100km/h from a standstill in just 3.9 seconds.

However, the M3 Competition is not all about quick 0 to 100km/h times but rather about the full driving experience, the performance, the way its delivered, the pin sharp steering, the superb sports suspension and the aural experience as you hear that silky smooth six cylinder 3.0 litre engine rev towards the red line.

The interior is of top quality and apart from the digital instrument display with a rev counter that revs in an anti-clockwise direction (why? It just looks wrong!) it is a superb place to be. 

Out on a country road the M3 Competition really comes to life with a wonderful blend of performance and agility while yet managing not to be so rigid and uncompromising that you tire of driving it on bumpy roads. BMW has really got this car very well sorted indeed.

The sequential gearbox delivers rapid up and down shifts, the programmable M3 buttons allow the driver to set the car up as you would like changing the suspension, steering, throttle response and sports exhaust to your individual settings at the push of a button.