This is one of the first road tests of the new 2015 BMW M3 in America, and it beings on the race track, in the wet. Carlso Lago from Motor Trend goes to Road America circuit to sample the new four-door hotrod from Bavaria, before taking it back to California for their usual battery of tests.

This review has a few interesting points, starting with the noise that turbocharged straight-six makes. BMW has got a lot of stick for the way this engine sounds, and this test confirms they are well-deserved. But that’s a small price to pay given the advantages of the turbos, which become abundantly clear when they strap the car on a dyno machine.

The real skinny is that the 2015 BMW M3 is a fantastic driver’s car. Granted, the previous generation may look and sounds slightly better, but this thing is so good, it almost makes the M5 look pointless. Unless you need the space, the M3 is every bit as good to drive as the big car.