Remarkable engine, race-carlike handling, killer good looks, sumptuous interior, all this in a body that can carry 4 adults, and their Golf clubs!! Those darn Europeans get all the cool stuff -- accents that make you sound intelligent, democratic art and a mind-blowing BMW M3, while we chumpy Americans have the Hollywood Squares, Pop Tarts and now, the boys of Bavaria decided to send us the real thing. Starting in 2001, and, boy howdy, it was worth the wait. The new M3 coupe, based on the delectable current-generation 3 Series, is propelled by the magnificent 3.2-liter engine, with 333 thundering horses coming from a single bank of six cylinders. Capped with a six-speed manual transmission, all that horsepower and the 262 foot-pounds of torque (at 4,900 rpm) is good enough to propel the 3,781-pound M3 convertible to 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds. But an exhilarating driving experience involves more than mere speed, and the dynamics of the M3 have car reviewers frothing at the mouth to describe the joy derived from piloting this vehicle. From its communicative steering and near-perfectly balanced chassis to the compliant-yet-firm ride, this Bimmer, like most others, will have you searching for that elusive twisty road upon which to spool the revs and extract that stunning exhaust note. Features include heated sport bucket seats. There are front and side airbags (coupes get a head protection system for front seat occupants, too) for safety and, of course, antilock brakes are standard. BMW's Dynamic Stability Control system also makes the grade. Other options include; Xenon headlamps, a CD player, and HK Sound system. We think that the 3 Series is one of the best cars on the market today, and the M package increases its appeal exponentially. These beauts should have enough oomph and athletic prowess to have the competition whimpering in the corner.