The M440i is the “dream car” of many young, and why not older, riders.

The sporty Bavarian two-door coupé is a crowd pleaser, for better or worse. The straight-back, lying under the belly of the car, combined with the top-class driveability of its rivals, makes it easy to become mentally half-aged.

Let’s start with the holy of holies

“At least a few years ago, ‘three-litre straight-six’ could well have been BMW’s slogan, and everyone knows exactly what brand they’re talking about. In a changing world, straight-sixes are declining as tighter standards and more efficient four-cylinders impose new norms on the motoring world.

The M440i can still be happy in its own right, as the 374 horsepower produced by the engine feels and sounds as it should. There’s no need for any negative feedback on the engine, working with the 8-speed automatic transmission with the expected stunning and graceful precision.

There’s no shortage of torque, with 500 Nm of maximum torque on offer from just 1900 rpm onwards. The engine’s response to the accelerator pedal is instantaneous. The engine is combined with 48-volt light hybrid technology, which helps with 11 horsepower during acceleration and recharges the battery during braking.

A fine engine won’t do anything unless the whole is right. BMW has managed to keep the sportiness present in the M440i regardless of the driving situation. The car has no need to flatter anyone with its soft ride or superbly quiet sound. There is no getting away from sportiness with this car and that’s a good thing.

The chassis is tactile, even if the friction tyres don’t do full justice to the feel of the chassis. Summer tyres will in time reveal the true character and precision of the chassis in harder driving.

Which angle would give the best view

Anyone who has followed the discussions about the design of the new 4 Series has not been able to avoid direct criticism of the appearance of the front bumper’s kidneys.

I have to admit that the first press photos slightly shocked me. It was not just the shape of the kidneys, but the whole design of the car seemed to be missing the red thread.

In the flesh, the new 4-series partially shatters expectations. In the pictures, the kidneys are literally jumping out at you, whereas the advertising photos are normally taken from waist height. In person, the shape of the kidneys is much more restrained, even if they are not perfect.

The second problem is the rib profile, which is difficult to get a good grip on. Edginess could easily have been achieved by a clear front-to-back side skirt, but now, a quick glance at the side of the car reveals that the only distinctive BMW features are the M logo on the front fender and the BMW centre rims.

The rear end, on the other hand, is deliciously BMW with its signature L tail lights and M-Sport bumpers. No expense has been spared on the size of the exhaust pipe trim.

Inside like a three-piece

In terms of the cabin, there are very few differences to the three-series. The driving position is superb, the dashboard is slightly turned towards the driver in BMW style and, as typical of the brand, the controls are positioned as well as possible. The thick leather M-Sport steering wheel fits like a glove.

In terms of usability, the buttons on the climate control panel could be better. Adjusting the temperature with a thick glove sometimes makes the reading read something other than the desired temperature unless you really concentrate on the adjustment.

The instrumentation is familiar from other models in the range. There’s nothing wrong with a clear and informative instrument cluster, but the question arises whether the sporty two-door could have a different instrument cluster than the one we’re already used to in the 5-series, for example. A more traditional clockwise rev counterclockwise tachometer is also needed to replace the current counterclockwise one.

The sturdy leather sports seats offer a full range of adjustments, and the long doors make climbing into the back seat as easy as it can be in a two-door car.

Appearance is always an issue if you don’t know exactly what’s going on inside. The M440i lives up to expectations in terms of its superb feel and sporty handling, a shame we didn’t get to enjoy the full ride in summer weather just yet.

See here for other BMW test drives.

However, it would be the one wish for the Bajerians. The design of the model seems to be flowing at a rapid pace in a direction where the feedback seems to be exceptionally strong.

Stick to your values and continue to develop excellent driving experiences, as you have so far. There already seem to be enough lucky winners in the world for new design trends that attract unnecessary attention.

BMW M440i A xDrive MHEV

• Engine: 2998 cm³, 6-cylinder, petrol
• Total maximum power: 275 kW, 374 hp.
• Total maximum torque: 500 Nm.
• Acceleration: 4.5 sec (0-100 km/h)
• Combined consumption: 7.5 l/100 km.
• CO₂ emissions: 170 g/km.
• Test consumption: 9.1 l/100 km.
• Drive mode: four-wheel drive
• Starting price: €84 848