KOHLER, Wisc. – Think Moon Bloodgood wearing Victoria’s Secret, and you’ll get a sense of the new 2006 BMW M Coupe. This car is striking, alluring, clearly something meant for going fast and having fun. Its existence is somewhat of a surprise, though, given that BMW tried a similar formula several years ago and failed to find an audience. Indeed, the original Z3 and M Coupes’ brave two-seat “shooting brake” design didn’t go over well in America, selling in low numbers only to the most faithful devotees of the blue-and-white roundel, virtually guaranteeing that they will become classics a few decades from now. With their fixed roofs and mini-wagon greenhouses married to the sexy Z3 or M roadster’s bodywork, the Z3 and M Coupes were about as appealing as Moon Bloodgood wearing a pair of plus-sized plaid L.L. Bean pajamas.

This time around, the M Coupe gets a racy tail, a sleek greenhouse, and lines that blend in beautifully with BMW’s flame-surfacing design themes. In keeping with tradition, the M Coupe also gets the larger M3’s six-cylinder engine, along with a full BMW Motorsport massage that includes the transmission, brakes, steering, and suspension. Minor cosmetic tweaks are made primarily out of necessity, and the interior receives special attention in the form of M sport seats, unique gauges, and other details.

The end result is one of BMW’s purest expressions of performance. Perhaps more than any other vehicle in the storied German automaker’s 2006 lineup, it is the new M Coupe that most vigorously waves the checkered performance flag. It is raw. It is rough. It is raucous. It ain’t no luxury car, even if you can order the sun visors trimmed in leather. The M Coupe is about going fast, having fun, and doing so in uniquely tailored style. Few may have mourned the previous M Coupe’s passing, but we’d bet many are glad to see its triumphant return.