Exiting the pit-lane in Sport mode for the lap let me get to grips with the car’s behaviour. Compared to the M5, it’s much lighter and a lot more agile too. The straight-six motor sounds glorious and turning into the first right-hander let me feel just how much grip was on offer. Turn Two is a left-hander which leads into Turn Three and on to the back straight where it’s foot mashed to the floor. BMW claim a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 4.1 seconds, and I don’t dispute that at all. The engine roars and, at full chat, the quad-exhaust pipes open up to almost free-flow units, letting you revel in the soundtrack. The M4 hits 228 km/h before the pace car lights up red and grows exponentially in my windscreen, making me step on the brakes. It will hit an electronically-limited top whack of 250 km/h, given the space. As I turn into the right-hander which leads into the S, the 245 rubber set up front steers in well and the 275s at the rear allow for good levels of grip, letting me get on the power just that much earlier. Turning into the quick right after running the kerbs, I get back on the power before we turn into the penultimate corner and head into the pit-lane.
The M4 Coupé is undoubtedly a lot of fun on track, but here in India, it’s not something everyone has access to. As a tourer, it is very capable. It has a good amount of space, Comfort mode ride quality is very liveable and it also has a large 445-litre boot. However, it’s not like a good chocolate pie, more affordable and easily available. The M4 is a class apart, it’s Peter Gilmore’s eight-textured chocolate cake, on wheels, at Rs 1.22 crore (ex-showroom). Those who want a fast saloon will invariably choose the M3, but for those who want the historic two-door in its latest avatar, the M4 Coupé is the one to put your money on.
NEED TO KNOW: BMW M4 Coupé
Engine: Petrol, 2,979cc, in-line six, twin-turbo, direct injection, 24-valve DOHC
Max Power: 431 PS @ 5,500-7,300 RPM
Max Torque: 550 Nm @ 1,850-5,500 RPM
Transmission: Seven-speed, dual-clutch, automatic, rear-wheel drive
Price: Rs 1.22 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi)
