DURING the past 25 years I have driven all of the fabulous M cars produced by BMW.

Each has been fantastic but the latest offering is the best for some time.

With the 1-Series M Coupe BMW has gone back to its roots to produce a car that is one of the finest drivers' machines available.

Reminiscent of the original E30 M3, the new car costs £40,020 and brings M car performance in at £13,000 less than an M3.

It is not as technical as its larger more expensive M siblings and it is all the better for it.

Its raw speed and power is there for all to enjoy and you do not have to contend with different settings for this and that as the 1-Series M Coupe keeps things simple.

The M Coupe has an aggressive and powerful stance to match its pace. The large alloys and bumpers, bulging wheel arches and quad exhausts leave other road users in no doubt that this is not an ordinary 1-Series.

It also sits lower and the track is wider to accommodate a suspension that has been lifted from the M3.

The large air intakes, rear spoiler and M badges also boast that this is a special car.

But as with all M cars it is the engine that makes them exceptional.

The new car features BMW's 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six which has been uprated by the motorsport division to produce 335bhp and actually offers more grunt than the current M3.

The turbo power is a break with tradition but that is the way it will be from now on with the next M5 featuring a twin-turbo V8.

Top speed is limited to 155mph and the sprint to 62mph takes just 4.9 seconds.

If anything the car feels even quicker than that and you get a great buzz every time you drop the hammer.

The car fires into life with a deep rumble and from that point on it is all smiles if you are behind the wheel.

The 1-Series M feels really nimble and the sports differential also taken from the M3 shifts torque between the rear wheels for maximum traction when cornering.

The sports brakes are also straight from the M3 and the short-throw six-speed box is a delight to use.

The ride is firm but surprisingly supple and your joints are not rattled every time you hit a bump.

The car has a raft of electronic driver aids but the engineers have selected the settings and the only gizmo you can play with is the M button on the steering wheel.

Drive sensible in normal mode and you can expect almost 30mpg but that drops substantially when you hit the magic button and begin to enjoy the thrills provided by the coupe.

The cabin is smarter than the standard cars - leather with Alcantara, bespoke dials, a chunky M steering wheel and M sport seats and the famous logo on the gear knob.

Available in only three colours - Alpine White, Black Sapphire and Valencia Orange - only 450 are for the UK market.

Not surprisingly 400 have already been sold, so if you want one you will have to act quickly and don't expect to get your car until much later in the year.

In my opinion this is one of the best M cars ever and it is something of a bargain.  It is sure to become a collector's item and it is just a pity we had to wait this long to get it.