SINGAPORE - The coupe version of BMW's 3-series has long been the choice of enthusiasts who yearn to have that extra ounce of verve and excitement at the wheel.

But in recent years, that proposition has weakened somewhat - partly because the four-door is quite a polished performer in its own right. And partly because the two-door - since it was renamed the 4-series - does not offer appreciably more than what you expect of a coupe, owing largely to the same drivetrain that is shared by a large number of models.