One of the most common aftermarket modifications performed on four-wheeled vehicles, whether it’s a car, truck,->ke1311 or SUV,->ke145 is an upgraded exhaust. A manufacturer offering new pipes might talk about reduced backpressure or a fatter torque curve or improved efficiency, but really, the whole reason anyone gets a new exhaust is for the sound. A barking, rumbling, popping engine note makes just about any machine feel sportier, even if the data to support such a claim comes exclusively from the butt-o-meter.

So it comes as no surprise that BMW->ke178 would pump exhaust noise through the stereo of its 2015 M4 sport coupe. Giving the driver that little extra tingle of exhilaration when he or she puts their foot down shouldn’t come with a void on the warranty and extra attention from the police, right?

There are a lot of folks out there, however, who disagree with the feature. On the one hand, it is a bit like cheating. Some see it as disingenuous, a cheap parlor trick to make people think the car is more aggressive than it really is.

Matt Farah doesn’t think so. He took this please-arrest-me orange M4 out to California’s Highway 33 for some full-throttle blasts and a brief deconstruction of the concept of synthesized engine noise. The verdict? Farah thinks the M4 is plenty loud, but the cabin is so well refined and insulated, that the extra stereo noise is actually necessary.

Of course, we think it’s a mute point (couldn't resist). Anyone who really wants some no-BS exhaust sound is welcome to run open headers. That should give you a real taste of the straight-six under the hood of this high-price Bavarian import. In fact, we’d love to see that. Don’t forget to film it.

Click past the jump to read about the 2015 BMW M4 Coupe.

2015 BMW M4

The M4 Coupe replaces BMW’s performance yardstick, the two-door M3,->ke2366 as a car that’s every bit as capable of bearing all those M badges. The old naturally aspirated V-8 was tossed in favor of a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six, which makes 425 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, besting the outgoing eight-cylinder engine by 11 horsepower and a ridiculous 111 pound-feet.

Of vital importance is the six-speed transmission with a clutch pedal, but an optional double-clutch, seven-speed automatic unit is available for the lazy. Sixty mph is met in around four seconds flat, and the top speed is 155 mph. The suspension has been upgraded with “play-free” ball joints, a CFRP strut tower brace, and a rear axle that’s bolted directly to the rear subframe to help cull the weak. We wouldn’t be surprised to find a gutted interior and a five-point harness in the cabin, but instead, there’s leather, aluminum, and a stereo that plays lovely six-cylinder operas.

Prices start at $64,200, but anyone interested in purchasing one might as well add another $20,000 considering BMW’s fondness for optional equipment.