There are engines of all sizes that make glorious sounds, reminding the car lover why bigger and louder is better and that the Toyota Prius is about as cool as David Dickinson’s wardrobe. However, despite the classic engine sounds of Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati taking the limelight, there is an unsung hero from Germany that I believe needs attention.

The BMW E46 M3 with its 3.2 litre straight six engine produced one of the finest exhaust notes ever to kill the countryside. It is hard to put your finger on what it actually sounds like, it is that unique, but its four exhausts simply rasp to life at 5,000 rpm like no other automobile.

So when BMW announced they were doing away which this for the 2009 M3, I felt an era had passed. Instead a V8 was used, not a sound I am too fond of, unless it is coming from a raw American muscle car. The modern German V8’s are a world away from the downtown red-light district quarter-mile drag races from the land of the free, and sure enough upon its release I found the new M3 a bit like listening to Barry White with flu.

Do not fear though, for BMW have been working hard on a new version released today: the new M3 GTS. The promotional video gets straight to the point, bellowing out an exhaust note that has re-kindled my love for this car. You can’t deny BMW have always been cutting-edge with the M3, never compromising on true driving performance, but the complete package was gone with a V8 sound, until now.

The new car will feature a 4.4 litre V8 pushing out 450bhp through a 7 speed gearbox. The car has been extensively modified from the standard M3 with a lighter interior and spoiler and front splitter additions to improve handling even more. BMW will be making the cars to order at a staggering 115,000 Euros each. For that price let’s hope it comes in other colours because his wardrobe is not the only un-cool thing about David Dickinson…