BMW has unveiled the first-ever CS version of the M3 Touring

If the long-roof M3 wasn’t enough for you, now there is a CS version to spice things up

BMW has a long history with wagons. They’ve typically been fairly pedestrian, which only made enthusiasts more eager to turn their mommy-market-mobile into a long-roof M-spec version. Anyone with a 530it (the T at the end for touring which is BMW speak for wagon) wanted to shove the M5 engine into it or at least the V8 out of a 540i. The e46 M3 notoriously didn’t come in a wagon version and has been homebrew M3 touring ever since.

These issues went away as BMW saw to making hot wagons in-house. The most recent addition of their commitment to building the M5 touring is an indication. Not everyone was happy because those purists and die-hards have always wanted the CS version in touring. That is all about to change with the M3 CS Touring. The racing DNA is being combined with something that is grocery store friendly. Dads of the world, rejoice!

The 405kW/550 hp six-cylinder turbo will be at home in a long-roof BMW that uses carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) for weight savings in a way that only a mad scientist would dream about. Power will be routed through an 8-speed M Steptronic automatic (no manual) and with M xDrive all-wheel drive. Zero to one hundred km/h is seen in 3.5 seconds (0-62 mph), making this an extremely fast ride to and from the supermarket. The M3 CS Touring will top out at an electronically limited 300km/h /186mph.

This M3 CS Touring has the same high-tech racing-derived engine as its short-roof sibling. It features a rigid crankcase with a sleeve-free, closed-deck construction, forged lightweight crankshaft, and cylinder heads with a 3D printed core. Wire-arc sprayed iron coating is used to reduce frictional losses in the weight-shaving cylinder bores. Cooling and oil supply are upped to keep with the additional demands of hard driving. The turbo pressure is upped to 2.1 bar and among other tweaks, this CS version commands an additional 15kW/20 hp and torque comes in at 650nM/479 lb.-ft.

Featuring an M-specific exhaust with electronic valves, a titanium rear silencer, and lightweight construction, the M3 CS Touring will have the typical twin pipes exiting at the rear in matt black. From the M Setup menu inside, you can select SPORT or SPORT+ to produce different notes and create some drama throughout the rev range.

The eight-speed M Steptronic is the only available transmission (bummer) but seeing how good the traditional slush-box has gotten, it should be a good one. The Drivelogic button is integrated into the gear shifter making alterations to the transmission’s characteristics a quick movement. Three settings are available: comfort, sport, and track. Carbon fiber paddles accompany the steering wheels for quick up and downshifts.

M xDrive all-wheel drive is the only method this long-roof will put down the power. Electronically controlled through the use of multi-plate clutches in the transfer case ensure fully variable and super-smooth distribution of the power between the front and rear axles. Used with the Active M Differential at the rear, which is also fully variable, the system acts in a rear-bias with a 4WD Sport mode available in the M Setup menu. You can even set the car to 2WD and deactivate the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) if you feel like laying down some elevens on the pavement.

Underneath, the M3 CS Touring has been carefully adjusted for the added weight of the longer roof and added class and rear gate. The DSC and M Dynamic Mode were optimized for the specific demands of track driving. The electronic dampers are a model specific setup as are the M Servotronic steering and braking system. M Compound brakes are used with red or black calipers. Optional M Carbon ceramic brakes are available with red or matt gold calipers. Matt Gold Bronze or matt Black finish wheels are available in 19-inch front and 20-inch rear with 275/35 front and 285/30 rear tires.

But where the CS is special is in the weight savings category. CFRP is used in the car’s bonnet, front splitters, front air intakes, exterior mirror caps, and rear diffuser. M Carbon bucket seats are fitted, CFRP steering wheel shift paddles, trim strips, and a special center console help to keep the weight gain to a minimum. Fifteen kilograms were estimated to be saved compared to the non-CS version of the M3 Touring.

Spec’ing your M3 CS Touring you’ve got a couple paint colors to choose from such as British Racing Green, Laguna Seca Blue (my vote), Frozen Solid White or Sapphire Black metallic. The roof and model-specific roof spoiler are in black high-gloss and a red surround for the roof spoiler.

Cheers!

M. T. Blake

Instagram @autohabitblake

1 Comment

This looks spectacular! It will be proper fun to drive!

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