It’s been a long time coming, but finally BMW has lifted the wraps from its first-ever M3 Touring. The newcomer, which debuted at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, combines the supercar performance of eye-watering straight-line pace with the comfort and practicality of a 3 Series estate.
And, of course, to cap it all off, the BMW M3 Touring’s appearance coincides with the ongoing celebrations for M division’s 50th anniversary. It’s not a bad way to celebrate a significant milestone.
Coming hot on the heels of the track-focused BMW M4 CSL, this latest addition to the M3/M4 family marks the first time the German giant has given the full M treatment to the 3 Series estate in seven generations. So it’s certainly something to celebrate.
Oh, and only because I know someone will no doubt mention it: BMW did, way back in 2000, build a one-off Touring version of the E46-gen M3. But it was kept under lock and key for 16 years, only seeing the light of day in 2016.
Ok, so what about the engine and performance?
The 2022 M3 Touring is powered by BMW M’s S58 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged straight six, which means 503bhp and 479lb/ft. That power is then sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox and Active M differential.
Press the loud pedal and 62mph comes up from standstill in just 3.6 seconds, and carries on to a top speed of up to 174mph with the optional M Driver’s package.
Available exclusively in range-topping Competition xDrive form, the M3 Touring is also only slightly slower off the mark than the four-wheel-drive M3 Competition Saloon, despite the added weight of the estate’s extended bodywork.
And it’s really an estate car?
Yup, well spotted. Personally, I’ve always admired the lines of the 3 Series estate, in the same way I prefer the Audi A4 Avant to the A4 saloon. Now BMW finally has a head-to-head rival for Audi’s thunderous RS4 Avant.
According to BMW, the estate version of the M3 gives the Touring ‘variability and generosity in terms of transport capacities for eventful everyday mobility and fast-paced travel activities’. Really, that’s a longwinded way of saying it’s more practical than the 3 Series saloon.
But don’t think the Touring’s on-the-road performance has been compromised because of the near 50:50 weight distribution. BMW engineers have lightly fettled the suspension and steering set-up to account for the new body.
You won’t be surprised to hear BMW says it offers ‘the combination of agility, dynamics and precision in handling that is characteristic of BMW M automobiles’.
Any technical changes over the M3 saloon?
To be honest, no. And that’s really the answer you want to hear, given the saloon is such a stonkingly fast and agile piece of kit. Apart from the extended roofline and upright rear end, the M3 Touring is essentially identical to the saloon.
Thankfully, like all M models, the M3 Touring gains the larger vertical kidney grille. In addition, the other features which help it stand out from the standard 3 Series estate include bespoke bumpers and side skirts, chunky flared wheel arches, a significant quad-exit sports exhaust, a bespoke rear spoiler, plus 19-inch front and 20-inch rear M Sport wheels.
What’s it like inside?
There’s a familiar feeling to the cabin setup in that it’s very close to that of the standard, recently updated 3 Series Touring. The cabin is dominated by a new 14.9-inch infotainment screen which runs BMW’s latest eighth-generation iDrive operating system. There’s also a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster.
And as you would expect in any M model, the M3 Touring gets the expected nods to its performance. That essentially means red driving mode selectors on the steering wheel and M-themed upholstery. These can be further supplemented by carbon fibre trim elements and full-carbon bucket front seats as optional extras.
Any word on pricing?
Yes. Due to go on sale at Arnold Clark in September, ahead of production beginning in November, the BMW M3 Touring will start at £80,550, which is around the same prices at the saloon. Buyers will be able to choose from the same colour and trim combinations as offered with the M3 saloon.
It’s worth highlighting that the M3 Touring will be one of the final non-electrified additions to the full-bore M car line-up, which is likely to make it a highly-demanded piece of kit.
Also arriving later this year is the BMW XM super-SUV, which will be the BMW’s first PHEV. That in itself is significant, as the next generation M5 is rumoured to use the hybridised twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 lifted from the XM.