After two generations of straight-six-powered M3s, in 2007 BMW turned to a V8 to enable its new E92 coupe (and saloon-bodied E90 sister car) to join the arms race with Mercedes‑AMG, Audi and Lexus.

While it's ostensibly a saloon in profile, Volvo says design trickery allows it to combine the raised driving position and ground clearance of an SUV (the latter being 4cm lower than the EX90 ) with a ...