BMW recently unveiled the M3 Touring, bringing M CS racing performance to a wagon platform for the first time.
However, we’ll have to wait 25 years to see it roaming the streets of the USA, as this model will not be making an appearance stateside.
The new M3 is powered by a 550 hp six-cylinder in-line engine, and goes on a diet from the 3-series, with weight savings resulting from the use of numerous carbon fibre-reinforced plastic components throughout. The chassis has also been tuned for the weight distribution of a wagon, so it is balanced a little differently than the two door version of the M3.The electronically controlled dampers of the adaptive M suspension on the BMW M3 CS Touring likewise come in a model-specific setup, as do its M Servotronic steering and integrated braking system.
How fast?
BMW made a screamer with this one and it’s got tons of power for getting around town. BMW claims that the car will do 0-60 in 3.4 seconds, jumping off the line with 479 lb ft of torque.
The automaker says this is in part due to redesigned engine mounting with increased spring rates creates an extremely rigid connection between the power unit and the vehicle’s structure. This leads to even quicker engine response and more direct power to the crank. The top speed of the special-edition model – which comes as standard with the M Driver’s Package – is electronically limited to 186 mph. Stopping power comes courtesy of M carbon ceramic brakes, and the engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic, and no manual option is an available – bit of a head scratcher there.
Interior
The interior looks like a nice place to be. It’s a BMW interior, lots of Alcantara, leather, and piano black plastic with a large digital gauge cluster. Electrically adjustable and heated M Carbon bucket seats are fitted as standard for the driver and front passenger. They have integral head restraints, an illuminated “CS” model badge and surfaces in Merino leather. Their exclusive Black/Red design is also adopted by the rear seats, while all the door panel trim is covered with black leather.
The M-specific Setup button on the centre console enables direct access to the settings for the engine, chassis, steering, brakes and M xDrive. Two individually configurable setup variants can be stored together with personal settings for the engine sound, DSC, Automatic Start/Stop function and the shift characteristics of the eight-speed M Steptronic transmission – and these setups are then selected using the M buttons on the steering wheel. The BMW M3 CS Touring also comes as standard with the M Drive Professional system with track-optimised functions such as the M Drift Analyser and M Laptimer.
BMW’s M3 CS matches most things about the M3 CS sedan, and that’s as close as we’ll get stateside – at least until you can import one in 2050.
