FOR those who mourn the sheer excitement of the neat and powerful 2000 coupes built by BMW in the 1960s there is a modern solution.

It is called the BMW 225d Coupe 2.0 M Sport and forms part of the 2 Series Coupe range. Driving it brings back more than a whiff of those heady days when the BMW coupes were regarded as being among the kings of the road.

They were rear-wheel-drive as is their modern counterpart and on the road with the 225d there is definitely a feel of those days when small coupes from BMW punched well above their weight.

And the punch in this one comes from a 1,995cc four-cylinder diesel developing 218bhp linked to an eight-speed automatic gearbox with manual mode to get the most out of this 150mph coupe.

There is a misapprehension among some that this range is a 1 Series with a fancy body, but this is far from the truth because although based on the 1 Series platform the wheelbase is longer and the car sits lower and wider, giving a completely different road stance and feel.

The 2 Series Coupes were aimed at raising the bar in the premium compact sector for both driving dynamics and aesthetic appeal and this has certainly been achieved.

This is no five-seater pretending to be a coupe, but a dedicated four seater with a true sporty ambience.

As with other engine options in the range, the 2.0 diesel utilises BMW's TwinPower Turbo technology to deliver class-leading performance and efficiency figures. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are further reduced by BMW's extensive EfficientDynamics technologies, which are standard across the range.

The premium, driver-centric cabin and high level of standard equipment are enhanced on this model by the M Sport features which give this car a much more upmarket feel. It costs in its basic form £31,190 and can be enhanced by a raft of optional extras.

It is true to BMW coupes of the past, with a distinctive three-box body structure and design features such as the side swage lines that wrap around into the rear and the iconic Hofmeister kink.

In profile, the BMW 2 Series Coupes feature a long bonnet, short overhangs and a set-back passenger compartment. A prominent character line above the door sill sweeps up rearwards of the B-pillar and towards the flared rear wheel arch, emphasising the car's rear-wheel drive layout.

Front headroom and rear legroom have increased by 19mm and 21mm respectively compared to the BMW 1 Series Coupe, while several large storage compartments, including the spacious glovebox and door pockets, add practicality. The Easy Entry function of the front seats aids access to the rear of the cabin and the 60:40 split folding rear bench seat helps to make best use of the 2 Series Coupé's load-carrying potential.

With the M Sport package, customers can also order their car with the M Sport braking system with fixed callipers, four pistons at the front and two at the rear, with larger brake discs.