TEST MATCH

Alpine's new A110 R and BMW's latest M2 have arrived at the crease and are ready to face their toughest opponent: Porsche's Cayman GT4

- JAMES TAYLOR

SO FAR, SO GOOD. IN FACT, VERY GOOD. THE BMW M2 is settling into an easy lope, crossing country at medium-brisk pace. Steering is keen but measured; ride cushioned; straights devoured in one gear as the straight-six's sinews warm up and flex its hulking torque reserves.

These are our first miles in the BMW M2 in UK spec on UK roads. Until now we've driven it in Germany and in Arizona, but the former was as a pre-production prototype and the latter was half a day, on a mostly freeway-dominated route, during its international media launch. It shone on both occasions but the UK can throw the odd surprise jab to knock out even the hardiest of newcomers.

The primary concern on the launch - that the ride might prove too firm for lumpy British roads - melts away early on. On 19 and 20-inch wheels front and rear respectively (same size as on the M3 and M4, with which the new M2 shares much of its hardware and structure), the ride is really rather smooth. In fact, in Comfort mode it's a little too loose-limbed on undulating roads, bordering on wallowy. Firmer Sport and firmest Sport+ keep the body's movements better in check, exhibiting the same controlled vertical behaviour that so impressed in Arizona, without sacrificing ride comfort. If anything, it's improved by the chassis' movements being tightened by those few extra degrees.

There are a few other issues that didn't come to light before, however: the pedals are more acutely offset in right-hand drive, and when treading the clutch pedal (this is a manual M2, the six-speeder a £545 option in the UK; an eight-speed torque-converter auto is standard) my left leg collides with the carbon-fibre centrepiece on the optional sports seat's base every time I change gear.