BMW has unveiled its first-ever M3 Touring, a high-performance wagon that celebrates 50 years of the M brand.
While BMW Group South Africa has not yet confirmed the new M3 Touring for a local introduction, the company has not completely ruled out the possibility, and it has been confirmed that it will arrive in South Africa in “limited numbers” in 2024.
The M3 Touring will be available exclusively in competition guise and fitted with the M xDrive system, generating 375 kW and 650 Nm of torque through an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The M3 Touring will achieve a claimed 0-100 kph time of 3.6 seconds, which is one-tenth slower than the all-paw M3 competition sedan but quicker than Audi’s RS4 Avant.
Its top speed is 250 kph or 280 kph with the optional M Driver’s package, and it is the fastest production wagon to lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife, completing the circuit in 7 minutes and 35.060 seconds.
The M3 Touring will come standard with adaptive M suspension, while M Carbon ceramic brakes can be optionally ordered as an alternative to the standard M Compound braking system.
Forged M light-alloy wheels measuring 19 inches fore and 20 inches aft can be specified with track tyres as an option.
The rear end of the M3 Touring features three full-size seats in the rear quarters, with the backrest split in a 40:20:40 ratio. When the seats are folded flat, the load capacity increases from 500 litres to 1,510 litres.
Other features of the M3 Touring include an automatic tailgate and a separately opening rear window, as well as a storage compartment beneath the boot floor.
Anti-slip rails that automatically rise up from the boot floor can be ordered as an option. Inside, the M3 Touring comes standard with electrically adjustable M Sport seats trimmed in Merino leather, and the latest curved display from BMW. A head-up display with M-specific content is offered as an option.
The M3 Touring’s exterior features a gloss black roof, with the roof rails and model-specific Gurney air-directing flap on the roof spoiler finished in the same hue.
The M Carbon exterior package is available as an option. BMW says orders for the M3 Touring will be taken from September 2022, with production scheduled to start in Munich in November 2022.
In summary, the new BMW M3 Touring is an exciting addition to the M brand, celebrating 50 years of excellence. Its high-performance capabilities are impressive, and the added practicality of a wagon body style makes it a versatile option for those who require more space.
While its availability in South Africa has not been confirmed, fans of the M brand are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to get behind the wheel of this unique vehicle.
