BMW confirms the M3 Touring
For the first time ever there will be an official five-door BMW M3
There has never been an official BMW M3 Touring, until now. BMW has confirmed that the sixth-generation M3 lineup will include a five-door for the very first time.
The car isn’t scheduled to be revealed in its final form until late 2022, but BMW has taken the unusual-but-welcome move of confirming the car’s existence early to quell speculation.
Its official press release states: “For the first time in the history of BMW M GmbH, the model range will be complemented by a BMW M3 Touring. Attentive observers will soon be able to catch a glimpse of the prototype”.
Good news for Aussie wagon fans is BMW Australia’s statement: “BMW Australia plans to introduce the M3 Touring and will advise arrival timing closer to the launch date.”
While the G81 M3 Touring will be the first full production model, BMW has flirted with the idea before, producing a production-ready prototype for the E46 generation to test the validity of the idea.
The two-year development process will include extensive testing at the Nurburgring Nordschleife because “the Touring is…first and foremost an M3”. BMW states that “Never before has a premium mid-range class estate car offered so much driving fun and precision” which will presumably come as quite a shock to the Audi RS4 Avant and Mercedes AMG C63 S Estate.
BMW says “speculation on engine and performance is quite welcome” but we don’t have to speculate too much as its recent release on the development of the M3 sedan and M4 Coupe, scheduled to be shown in a couple of weeks’ time, confirms the car’s mechanical make-up in some detail.
All M3s and M4s will use the new S58 3.o-litre twin turbo straight-six first seen in the X3 M and X4 M SUVs. In standard guise it will produce 353kW/650Nm with a six-speed manual, while the more focused Competition model will produce 375kW/650Nm through an eight-speed automatic and later come with the option of all-wheel drive.
We’d expect the 2022 BMW M3 Touring to be available exclusively with all-wheel drive and the automatic gearbox to reduce model and production complexity, but then the model’s existence itself was a surprise!
Otherwise, you can expect the usual M enhancements: stiffer adaptive suspension, wider tracks front and rear, body bracing, big brakes with the option of carbon ceramics and snug sports seats. It’s almost guaranteed that the M3 Touring will ape the M4’s controversial gaping twin-nostril grille, too.
We’ll bring you further details on the 2022 BMW M3 Touring closer to its release date and keep an eye on the website for the reveal of the M3 and M4.
Source whichcar.com.au
