Model year 2014 is definitely holding it down and lifting it up. At the top of the list are two coupes that like much of what’s being introduced for the coming model year—are led by the thrill of style and the feel of performance: 2014 BMW 435i Coupe and the 2014 Honda Accord Coupe EXL V6.

2014 BMW 435i COUPE
Base: $46,000Fuel
Economy: 25 mpg combined, with 22 city / 32 highway

Most memorable behind the wheel experience while commandeering this vehicle: When the dude in the 2014 BMW 750 Li pulled up, rolled down his window and asked: “Is that really the 435i?” By way of exterior appeal, the 435i is the epitome of sleekness at the coupe level. Its lines are aerodynamically fierce—front to back and down both sides.

Slither down into the hot seat of this low center of gravity whip and engage the start button to feel the rev of the engine while taking note of the LED headlights as they tilt, swivel and level. Set your iPhone, iPod or the satellite radio to your favorite theme song to prepare you for the journey. The shift from park to drive is when it hits…The power and glory of 300 lb-ft of torque courtesy of 300 horses housed in a 3.0 liter twin turbo, six cylinder engine are harnessed by an eight speed automatic transmission that shifts like butter, when pronounced, “buttah.”

Now take it to the next level by way of a range of driving modes Sport and Sport+ . Either will leave you sitting there grinning like a fat kid who just got the biggest piece of cake! And for those days and times when the feeling a bit more demure, perhaps the ECO PRO or COMFORT will be more suitable.

The combination of power and handling makes the very solid yet sublimely agile 435i the car you’ll want to drive full time. Whether taking a curve, maneuvering through city streets, breaking free from a pack of highway traffic or dusting all others when the traffic light turns green, the 435i brings to the table everything you need for a mission accomplished, especially with the additional Dynamic Handling Package at $1,000. While you’re at it, pimp it out with a set of 19-inch rims at $900 (18’s are standard).

Also worthy of honorable mention are the cornering lights and their amazing ability to clearly illuminate the path upon approach and through a night-time turn. Automatic stop/start technology is another worthy mention. However, there will be times when start off may not be as smooth as you’d like. As with any automobile offering stop/start feature, patience is a virtue. Nevertheless, it can be disengaged right above the engine’s start/stop button. And with BMW’s Ultimate Service, new car owners pay only for gas and tires over the first four years or 50,000 miles.

Final notes: You can swap the super smooth eight speed automatic out for a manual transmission at no cost. The all-new, first generation 4-Serie Coupe begins at $40,500 with the entry level 428i’s 2.0 liter, 240 horsepower twin-turbo engine. Both the 428i and 435i are available with BMW’s “xDrive” (all wheel drive) and convertible options. Each model’s eight-speed tranny can be swapped out for a manual at no extra cost. The model priced and profiled in this review does not include navigation.

2014 HONDA ACCORD COUPE EXL V6 with Navigation
Base: $32,400
Fuel Economy: 22 mpg combined, with 18 city / 28 highway

What meets the eye in the ninth generation Accord’s Coupe is simply ingenious! Sweeping lines from one end to the next, a dazzling front fascia adorned in LED daytime running lights, and a stance that in itself says, “Lets take the night!” have all come together to produce an Accord Coupe that sits shamelessly beside all others in its class and above. But to drive it is to love it!

A 278 horsepower 3.5 liter engine boasting 252 lb-feet of torque coupled with the fun of a comfortably shifting six-speed manual transmission places the power between the palm of your right hand and the balls of your two feet—both literally and figuratively speaking!

Together with independent mulit-link rear suspension and MacPherson strut front suspension’s influence on handling, noise and vibration, the ability to take a curve and dodge through traffic is the testosterone pill the doctor ordered.

The theme of sport performance carries over from exterior to in, with the look of carbon fiber accents, a tri-level stack whereby the dash offers a lower level for temperature controls, a touch-screen in the center for radio functions and Honda’s eight inch i-MID (Intelligent Multi-Information Display) at the top to display navigation screen, text messages and other driving stats. iMID also boast the ability to display images closest to your heart, which you can upload for display.

Honda’s trademarked “Honda Lane Watch” is something that I find challenging to understand why all other manufacturers have yet to follow. When the vehicle’s right turn signal is activated, a camera attached to the right side-view mirror displays upcoming traffic in the right lane to help safely guide your lane transition. The traffic from the lane is made visible in the iMID screen. And this is just one of the many safety features that made the ninth generation Accord a “Top Safety Pick+” with the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety).

So whatever you need to spend to posses the rush of adrenaline you need to experience each time you set foot behind the wheel, you just won!