BMW M continues to celebrate its 50th year of business with the release of the first-ever M3 Touring.
The performance wagon, the first of its kind in the M3’s 36-year run, is 3.3 inches longer and 3 inches wider than the standard M3, giving it the added utility that you’d think would make it perfect for North American shoppers. Unfortunately, as it stands, neither North America or China will be receiving the five-door car.
European drivers will be able to differentiate the vehicle on roads not just by its added door, but also by its frameless BMW kidney grilles and large air air intakes up front, along with the sculpted wheel arches and side skirts that create a band around the car together with the front and rear apron, the latter of which integrates the exhaust tailpipes.
Regardless of the paint finish selected, every M3 Touring will bear a high-gloss black roof with standard roof rails, though the roof can be made to match the body (including in the M Carbon exterior) as optional.
2023 BMW M3 Touring station wagon Photo by BMW
2023 BMW M3 Touring station wagon Photo by BMW
2023 BMW M3 Touring station wagon Photo by BMW
2023 BMW M3 Touring station wagon Photo by BMW
2023 BMW M3 Touring station wagon Photo by BMW
2023 BMW M3 Touring station wagon Photo by BMW
2023 BMW M3 Touring station wagon Photo by BMW
2023 BMW M3 Touring station wagon Photo by BMW
2023 BMW M3 Touring station wagon Photo by BMW
The new body variant houses a familiar power source: the inline-six-cylinder with M TwinPower Turbo also found in the Competition M3 and M4, as well as at the heart of the M4 GT3 endurance car. Here in the M3 Touring it makes 510 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque, which it passes through the 8-speed Steptronic transmission with paddle shifters. It also sounds a bit different thanks to an M exhaust with electronically controlled flaps. The car features the brand’s xDrive AWD, but can be manually entered into good old-fashioned rear-wheel-drive mode with the cancellation of Dynamic Stability Control.
The BMW M3 Touring will get from zero to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds; and from zero to 200 km/h in 12.9 seconds. And with the M Driver’s Package, top speed increases from 250 km/h to 280 km/h.
Adjustments were also made to the M3’s chassis to ensure it lives up to its “Touring” moniker, including more rigid axles front and rear, and electronically controlled shock absorbers. Stopping power comes from either the standard M Compound brakes or the optional M Carbon ceramic brakes, each set in light-alloy 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels with racing tires as optional.
Inside, the brand’s curved display including the 12.3-inch information screen decorates the dash, with a number of M-specific widgets appearing on the screen behind the wheel and below the BMW head-up display. An M Mode button on the centre console allows for the adjustment of the various driver assistance systems. And in the rear, the car’s added dimensions create 53.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the back seats folded down. That space can be filled via the rear door with automatic tailgate or through the separately opening rear window.
Seating up front is either the standard M Sport units in Merino leather; or the optional M Carbon bucket seats that are 9.6 kg lighter thanks to the use of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic.
The BMW M3 Touring will be unveiled in full at the Goodwood Festival of Speed later this month, with orders for those lucky enough to live in the right places opening in September, for a November production-start date.
Keyword: BMW unveils the probably-not-for-North-America M3 Touring