BMW M3 Touring Debuts At 2022 Good Festival of Speed

New BMW M3 Touring Debuts At 2022 Good Festival of Speed

To commemorate the BMW M Division’s 50th anniversary, the Bavarian automaker has introduced a long-overdue model of the M3 – the BMW M3 Touring estate. The automaker planned the estate wagon way back in 2000 when they showed the world the E46 M3 Touring concept, but it couldn’t materialise.

Fast forward to today, the Estate member of the M3 is here to compete with the Audi RS 4 Avant. It was shown to the public at the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed, keeping in mind that the UK is the second biggest market for this new body style after Germany.

Powertrain

The German automaker will make it available in only the Competition trim, which means it will be powered by the well-known turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six engine good for a massive 503 horsepower (375 kilowatts).

The power goes to the wheels through an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission and xDrive all-wheel-drivetrain, enabling the wagon to hit 62 mph or 100 km/h in only 3.6 seconds. Keep pushing the throttle, and the car will top out at 174 mph with the optional M Driver's Package included or 155 mph without it.

Exterior

You cannot be more wrong if you think it is another 3-Series Touring with the M3's prominent nose and a robust mill. The performance-focused model uses M-specific rear axle, which has made it 3.3 inches longer and 3.0 inches wider than the regular wagon. Indeed, it is a tad lower and uses extra bracing to tackle the open room behind the seats. Overall, the M3 Touring is about 200 pounds heftier than the M3 saloon, but the boot space equals the 3 Series Touring, offering 500 litres with rear seats intact and 1,510 litres by folding them.

Interior

Inside, the biggest highlight of the M3 Touring is a huge glass on the dashboard containing two separate screens - a 12.3-inch driver information display and a 14.9-inch infotainment screen, employing the BMW OS 8. Obviously, the screen shows M-specific functions with different drive modes, including a drifting mode as well as a two-wheel mode to disengage the all-wheel grip.

Besides these novelties, the rest of the Touring estate is very much a regular M3. The zigzagged wheels measure 19 inches at the front and 20 inches at the rear. The suspension has been tuned to make it a fun-to-drive vehicle on a daily basis. With all the extra stuff in the trunk, it still comes with a 50:50 weight distribution, which is exceptional. Additionally, various optional packs are accessible, as well as new shades. 

Price and Availability

BMW UK will start taking orders of the M3 Touring estate from September, with deliveries starting in November. It will cost £80,550, which is £2,000 more than the M3 saloon.

Source and Images: AutoExpress & Motor1