In reality, we started off with dry roads and not a hint of what was to come. Photographs were taken as it started to rain on the Mellieħa ridge. Having driven in England through the winter of 1955 in a sub-standard Austin sports, a car with a tonneau cover, two small Brooklands screens and absolutely no way of keeping dry, except for the waterproofs and crash helmet, I learnt a great many valuable lessons about keeping a skinny-wheeled contrivance on, or nearly on, the road in the most distressing circumstances.

As a result, I actually enjoy motoring through the rain, especially as the roads of today are infinitely better than English roads 50 years ago. The BMW in the wet was a great experience. It handled beautifully, with all the manners in the world on display for any driver to enjoy. Having said that, do not blast through the ‘lakes’ that may gather to trap the unwary.

If the road is a familiar one and the depth of water a known constant, approach with caution and proceed in low gear with the foot constantly but lightly on the accelerator. If in doubt, find a dif­ferent route or wait for the ‘flood’ to subside. BMW engines are highly tuned and very expensive to replace.

We found the car to be visually most pleasing, the sculpted lines evoking the wish to wander away where the speed, acceleration and maximum, could be explored safe in the knowledge that this coupe, along with all other BMWs, has been designed to cater for an ownership based on men and women who not only appreciate the design parameters but the sure-footed stance and sheer drivability, no matter what the weather has in store for the happy driver.

Before the rains came down I had the pleasure of exploring the traction, the sheer manoeuvrability, the outstanding brakes, finger-light steering and fabulous all-round visibility. OK, not at the head-turning speeds one would really enjoy.

Those who drive far and fast must surely love to explore the potential of their car as it tackles well-known hills and bendy secondary roads almost at the pilot’s limits of control. For most drivers, this will actually be somewhat below the maximums that the car would experience before it began to complain, gently at first and then if you insist on exploring the laws of physics, graphic things may well begin to happen.

Nothing untoward happened to us and we could easily have accommodated great aunt Ġemima and her two closest companions in the spacious rear without them being remotely aware that up-front the crew were working quite hard to provide a BMW-type ride in the most horrendous conditions.

Space forbids the eulogy to continue, except to say that a lamp in the cockpit alerts the driver that air is leaking from a tyre

Using Driving Experience Control, the driver can adapt the car’s behaviour to suit the desire of the moment by selecting Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport or Sport + mode.

This means at the push of a button this new coupe will not spoil the wallet as it provides lower fuel consumption, while still allowing the driver, especially in local conditions to really enjoy the car. Or if in a comforting mood, the occupants can experience ‘superlative ride comfort’, as the guidebook states.

Then, as the mood or sheer necessity dictates, the mode change allows quite exceptionally agile and interesting handling. Obviously, we enjoyed the full gambit, and wet or shine was thoroughly satisfied that the new 420 delivers all that was expected of it.

Not surprisingly, the chassis is right up there with the very best, and the sporty body is of particularly stiff construction, which increases the steering precision and agility. This is also helped by the variable sport steering, which varies the steering ratio independently of the road speed but matched to the steering angle, which reduces the steering movement required when adapting a particularly tight steering angle. This helps parking, manoeuvring, and is especially useful when blasting round tight corners or hairpin bends.

Dynamic Stability Control, incorporating Cornering Brake Control, Hill Start and Braking Assist, Brake Drying and Brake Standby, immediately stabilises things if the car begins to skid. Traction mode permits in­creased wheel slip within engineering limits in order to help movement in specific situations and enable an even sportier driving style.

Obviously, the occupant cell is as safe as BMW can make it using current methodology, and I like the idea of replaceable deformation elements front and rear capable of absorbing impacts of up to 15 km/h. Great news in Malta.

Space forbids the eulogy to continue, except to say that a lamp in the cockpit alerts the driver to the fact that air is leaking from a tyre, another painful experience often encountered on our rather strangely potholed roads.

Verdict

Comfort
Even on our roads this car provides high levels of comfort for five people.

Performance
More than adequate for even experienced drivers.

Cool
Obviously this quality and type of car declines to be quantified.

Quality
As near perfection as makes no difference.

At a glance

Top speed
Top speed of this model a mere 240 km/h. The tyres barely heat up at 80 km/h.

0-100km
7.5 seconds

Economy
On average this engine registers 4.7 to 4.8 litres per hundred kilometres.

C02
124 to 127 gms/kilometre.

Engine
1995 cc BMW Twin Power Turbo 4 cylinder diesel. Common rail direct injection turbocharged with variable turbine geometry. This produces 184 bhp with 380Nm of torque [pulling power] available from 1,750 to 2,750rpm.

Dimensions
It takes up 4,638 mm in length, with a body 1,825 mm stretched to 2,017 mm with mirrors extended and it proudly stands at 1,377 mm in height.

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