KEY POINTS:
Coupes have become marginalised among Germany's compact family supercar set. The last Audi RS4 was launched as a sedan and although a wagon and convertible followed, there was never a coupe. The Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG is also a four-door (with a wagon on the way).
So what does BMW, which is legendary for its M3 coupes, have to do? Produce a four-door version of the latest M3 V8, naturally - the first sedan to bear the name since the second-generation M3 of 1995.
The new M3 sedan is not half as obvious-looking as the coupe and for many that may be a desirable thing.
Styling-wise it looks more like a heavily dressed-up 335i than a genuine supercar (at least to the untrained eye) and lacks the coupe's show-off naked carbon-fibre roof. It's also cheaper than the coupe by $3000, and nearly as fast: 0-100km/h in 4.9 seconds versus 4.8 for the two-door.
With an extra 25kg and a slightly taller centre of gravity, the sedan should theoretically be slightly less agile than the coupe. But if you can tell any difference I'd be amazed.
The four-door is just as much a precision instrument as its more svelte stablemate - a soft(ish) road car when you want it to be but a beautifully involving performance car when you're in the mood.
Our M3 came in HP-specification, which does not bring more power but does add BMW's trick Electronic Damper Control system (with three modes), unrestricted top speed (280km/h) and an advanced driver training package.
The M3 is famously complex to set up with a plethora of steering, throttle and damper configurations. But it's only as complicated as you want it to be.
The damper control can be accessed via a button on the centre console and if you're prepared to take the time inside the iDrive menu (admittedly a bit cumbersome), you can configure your favourite combination of settings for various elements of the car, then store it on a programmable steering wheel button.
Mine involved the dampers sitting on the comfort setting but the stability control in "M Dynamic" mode, which allows a bit more oversteer before the active safety software steps in to straighten the car up.
It's a truly magnificent machine and at $170,000, remarkable value for supercar performance with rear seats and a decent boot. Still, it is looking a smidge expensive next to Mercedes-Benz's C 63 AMG, which has been launched at $155,000. Shame.
But is the M3 sedan better than the coupe? On balance, probably yes, if its blend of value, ability and practicality come into the equation. But more desirable? I think not. The cool M3s have always been coupes.
