BMW M Coupe

Breathtaking Performance And Handling,
Unique And Cutting-Edge, Yet Timeless Styling
In The Best M Product Yet

By Brian Leshon and Sandra Kinsler
Photos by Brian Leshon

HISTORY AND OVERVIEW: Over 45 years ago, Italian manufacturers coined the term Gran Tourismo (Grand Touring or GT) to describe a hard-top version of a convertible sports car. The idea behind these GTs was to develop a sports car with all the handling, performance and sex appeal but that had a trunk that could carry enough luggage for a weekend "tour" of a nearby resort or city.

Many fabulous GTs were available in the 1950s, 60s and early 70s. Most were British made. Some of the best known were the Jaguar XKE, the MGB/GT, Aston Martins, AC Aceca, Jensen Healy and the Cobra GT, among others. Today the meaning of the term GT -- like Grand Prix -- has been vastly diluted by automakers who made pseudo-touring coupes and sedans. It seems every manufacturer has had a GT in their product line even though they have diverged from the original intent and purpose of the design.

BMW sought to reawaken the GT tradition with the introduction of their new, and very exciting, M Coupe. The Coupe is based on the BMW Z3 chassis -- as is its sister the M Roadster. As it is an M product, it has the added power, performance and suspension of BMW's special motorsports-prepared line of street cars.