2004 BMW M3 SMG Convertible Road Test

The Nappa leather upholstery and trim panels in my M3 tester were finished in BMW's Imola red color, which looked sensational

The Nappa leather upholstery and trim panels in my M3 tester were finished in BMW's Imola red color. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

and contrasted brilliantly against the charcoal colored dash and console. The gauge cluster is comprised of a large circular tachometer and a matching speedometer sitting side-by-side, flanked left and right by smaller dials for the fuel level and engine temperature readouts. This grouping of the "essentials" is unobstructed and easily viewed through the upper half of BMW's sport steering wheel, which features thumb and forefinger operated audio and cruise control buttons. The leather wrapping of the beefy wheel and its ergonomically shaped hand positions added to my sense of being "connected" to the M3 in a way that was more than merely physical. The huge side-bolstering incorporated into the front perches and the steel-plate dead pedal ensured the hyper-connection would not be lost when the M3 strutted its "stuff" through the zigs and zags I went looking for, or should I say hunting for.

But it wouldn't be fair to prattle-on about the M3's handling without going first to the heart of the matter - its raucous powerplant. When the M3 badge is affixed to the valve cover of the

When the M3 badge is affixed to the valve cover of the 3.2-liter, 24-valve inline-six, it brings with it nothing less than 333-horsepower. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

3.2-liter (192 cu-in), 24-valve inline-six powering the M3, it brings with it nothing less than 333-horsepower (102-horsepower per liter) and 274 foot-pounds of tire burning twist. With a sub-two-ton curb weight of 1,715 kilos (3,781 pounds), the mighty-I-6 moves the M3 with gusto befitting a high performance 8-cylinder trumpeter. BMW claims an impressive 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) time of 5.5 seconds. Because this dynamo of an engine is naturally aspirated, the power is on-tap from the moment the drive-by-wire throttle is squeezed until the ignition key is finally pulled. There's no waiting for an add-on supercharger or turbocharger to contribute to the engine's raw thrust. From idle through to the M's screaming 7,900 rpm redline, torque is abundant.