2022 BMW M440i Coupe

That was the first question my neighbor asked…after walking over and saying "Looks good…what's it cost?"

Mid 60's I replied.

"So what are you paying for…the badges on the front and back, or is there something else", he asked.

And then I told him that I had the same questions…until I attended one of those BMW Ride and Drive events. Well…let's call it what it really is: A BMW Hang on Tight and Ride and Drive as Fast as You Can Event.

And I just didn't have any questions after that.

Here's why: You're given a bit of "pre-game" coaching and then encouraged to basically floor it and thread your way through a quarter mile of curves…flailing away at the wheel and braking as needed. The faster you make it through the circuit the bigger pat on the back you get. Just please don't knock down any of the orange cones that outline your course.

Few of us would regularly subject OUR vehicles to something like that, but BMW keeps 'em rolling all day just like that. Dozens of drivers…same cars going round and round…engines screaming and tires squealing from sunup to sundown.

And then it sinks in. Good grief…this is an absolutely stock vehicle. Right off the showroom floor. You could almost run down to your local BMW store…sign the papers…bolt in a roll bar…paint a number on the side and go race one of these things.

Again…of course I'm not suggesting that we drive to work like this, but it's darn comforting to know that…when needed…you can accelerate / brake / turn and often evade trouble simply because you were paying attention and driving a capable, responsive vehicle.

So…what'd we drive? A four-door version of this week's test ride…a BMW M440i Coupe.

Let's just call the coupe the 4-door's sexy sister…altho' the 4-door doesn't look bad, either.

While you can get the looks and all the performance that most folks need with the base 2.0 turbo four 440, it's the M440i that brings BMW's 382 HP twin turbo six to the party. This'll get you to 60 in roughly four-and-a-half seconds.

Is 382 HP enough? Well, punch it while rolling along at 40 MPH or so and you'll still leave rubber on the road behind you. Yes…this setup delivers the smooth all around performance that you expect from a BMW….plus blazing acceleration as needed….and the brakes to handle that speed.

Plus…unlike some two-doors, there's still decent room in the rear for two actual adult passengers.

Need more? OK…here's something that you might not expect: Up to 34 MPG on the road.

Need even more? All I can suggest is the slightly roomier 4-door.