High-performance wagon, anyone? Meet the first-ever BMW M3 Touring, a celebration of 50 years of the M brand. Yes, it’s now been confirmed for a South African introduction…

BMW’s celebration of 50 years of the M brand continues with the long-awaited unveiling of the first-ever M3 Touring. Yes, we finally have details of Munich’s unprecedented M3-badged estate.

M enthusiasts all over the country are likely wondering whether this high-performance wagon will make its way to local shores. Well, BMW Group South Africa has so far simply said the new M3 Touring “has not been confirmed” for a local introduction. Of course, South African car-buyers aren’t exactly renowned for their love of wagons, but considering BMW Group SA hasn’t completely ruled out the possibility, we live in hope.

UPDATE: BMW Group SA has confirmed the new M3 Touring is scheduled to arrive in South Africa in “limited numbers” at some point in 2024!

What do we know about the new M3 Touring? Well, it’s obviously closely related to the M3 saloon, though interestingly the estate version will be available exclusively in Competition guise (and fitted with the M xDrive system). That means the twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-6 petrol engine generates 375 kW and 650 Nm, peak outputs that are directed to all four corners courtesy of an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The result is a claimed 0-100 kph time of 3.6 seconds (one-tenth slower than the all-paw M3 Competition sedan but considerably quicker than Audi’s RS4 Avant) and a top speed of 250 kph (or 280 kph when specified with the optional M Driver’s package). The Munich-based firm claims the speedometer will display 200 kph just 12.9 seconds after launch. In fact, BMW says the M3 Touring is the fastest production wagon to lap theNürburgring Nordschleife, completingthe circuit in7 minutes and 35.060 seconds.

Adaptive M suspension (with electronically controlled shock absorbers) ships standard on the new M3 Touring, 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.

Party at the front, business at the back

While the M3 Touring’s engine is obviously familiar to M fans, it’s the rear end that sets this estate apart from its sedan sibling. BMW claims there are three “full-size seats” in the rear quarters, with the backrest split in a 40:20:40 ratio. Drop all of those pews flat and the load capacity balloons from 500 litres (around 20 litres more than the sedan) to a whopping 1 510 litres.

Standard features include an automatic tailgate and a separately opening rear window, while there’s also a storage compartment beneath the boot floor (a space able to accommodate the compartment cover and boot-partition net). Anti-slip rails that automatically rise up from the boot floor can be ordered as an option.

Up front, you’ll find electrically adjustable M Sport seats (with a memory function and seat heating) trimmed in Merino leather. Should you desire something a little more special, you can order the M Carbon bucket seats, complete with carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic structural elements, cut-outs in the side bolsters (and below the head restraints) and a weight saving of 9.6 kg.

The German automaker’s latest curved display is standard, with the digital screen array comprising a 12.3-inch information screen and a control display featuring a diagonal of 14.9 inches. A head-up display (with M-specific content) is offered as an option.

Other items on the standard equipment list include 3-zone automatic climate control, BMW’s Live Cockpit Plus system (including navigation), ambient lighting and a hi-fi speaker system. In terms of the exterior, the M3 Touring features a gloss black roof (or body colour as an option), 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, meanwhile, is found on the options list.

BMW says orders for the new M3 Touring (in initial markets) will be taken from September 2022, with production scheduled to start in Munich in November 2022.