BMW debuts the first-ever M3 Touring estate

Celebrations, especially anniversaries, often bring out the generous side of people. BMW’s M division is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and has been in a product offensive state since the first month. Halfway into the year, the generosity stays at its peak as the performance division releases the first-ever BMW M3 Touring station wagon. Tears of joy trickling down your eyes? Yeah, we can relate.

The first performance station wagon from BMW comes at a time when the world is consumed with crossovers and SUVs. Unlike the high-riding cars, the M3 Touring borrows its lowered stance from the M3 sedan, accompanied by the imposing grille up front. Large side air intakes, sharply cut front and rear bumpers, rear diffuser, extended side skirts and a gloss black band running along the entire car comprise the M3 Touring’s design highlights. The roof will be offered in black as standard, regardless of the exterior paint. Though, one can get it sprayed in body colour or have a carbon fibre roof attached as an optional extra.

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The cabin sees a host of changes from its sedan counterpart. The biggest of them comes behind the driver and in front of him. BMW’s latest 12.3-inch curved display, previously seen in the all-electric iX crossover, finds itself being offered as standard. Accompanying it is a 14.9-inch infotainment screen, presented in the same frame as the Curved Display with M-spec style and graphics. The section behind the driver sees a significant upgrade in space with 500litres of boot space. That space can be expanded to a whopping 1510 litres, courtesy of three full-sized rear seats capable of getting folded down individually.

Being the first-ever M estate, BMW wants to leave no stone unturned. Hence, it equips the station wagon with the same 3.0-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo in-line engine seen in the M3/M4 Competition model with its heightened power output of 510hp and 650Nm torques. Add the M-spec exhaust system with electrically controlled flaps into the mix, and even grocery runs in the M3 Touring may seem exciting. The engine is mated to an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission, with the power being put to the tarmac via the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system. 0-100kph acceleration time and top speed figures are 3.6secs and 250kph (or 155mph electronically limited), respectively. 

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While school runs and practical road trips are a bonus of the M3 Touring, customers of this estate would want to have their share of fun too. The Active M differential equipped at the rear axle with a 4WD Sport mode that allows rear-biased power delivery should help. The more experienced bunch of drivers can bring the 2WD mode – a.k.a. pure rear-wheel drive – into play.

The BMW M3 Touring makes its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in June 2022. Orders for the new BMW M3 Touring will be taken from September 2022, with both the market launch and production commencing in November 2022.