BMW surprises us enormously and announces the production of the M3 CS Touring

Going somewhat against the grain has always been part of BMW M‘s character, a formula that has always worked perfectly for them. However, if there was one criticism of the German brand’s performance division, it was that its lineup lacked sporty estates in the style of the Audi RS4 or RS6. They took their time, but in the end they listened to their customers: more than 35 years after the launch of the first M3, the BMW M3 Touring has finally arrived.

In a way, we didn’t expect the estate version to go any further than its much-celebrated arrival, meaning it wouldn’t get more extreme variants like its coupé sibling. We were wrong, and what a welcome mistake, because BMW has announced and presented the M3 CS Touring exactly one year after the arrival of the latest generation of the M3 CS coupé.

The formula remains the same as with the coupé body style: a sporty family car that still allows everyday use but manages to extract greater performance thanks to more specific tuning, more power from its engine and new components that shave off weight, all complemented by carbon fibre appendages that also help improve its aerodynamics.

Just like the M3 CS coupé, the result is a more extreme look, thanks to the carbon fibre exposed on elements such as the front splitter, the bonnet, front air intakes, the rear diffuser and the exterior mirror housings. These are combined with other details: the gloss black spoiler with red trim, the frameless front grille, and the British Racing Green, Laguna Seca Blue, Frozen Solid White or Sapphire Black metallic paint options for the bodywork. The LED headlights of the M3 CS Touring, with the same yellow light used on GT racing cars, will be impossible to ignore.

Inside the M3 CS Touring you will also find exclusive design and equipment features, such as M carbon bucket seats, electrically adjustable and heated, with an illuminated CS logo, an M Alcantara steering wheel with a three-spoke design as standard, M seat belts and plaques on the door sills bearing the model logo. Comfort remains assured and practicality is unchanged, with 500 litres of boot space, expandable to 1,510 litres with the rear seats folded.

All of this is combined with standard equipment on a par with other BMW models, such as the BMW Live Cockpit Professional, a BMW Head-Up Display with M-specific content, two-zone automatic climate control, comfort access and the Harman Kardon sound system. Safety and driver assistance systems include parking distance control and parking assistant, forward collision warning, lane change warning and speed limit information.

Mechanically, its 3,000 cc twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engine gains 20 CV, bringing output to 550 CV, while torque rises to 650 Nm. This is achieved through increased maximum boost pressure from the two turbochargers and specific throttle response adjustments. As a result, it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and reaches 200 km/h in 11.7 seconds, with a top speed limited to 300 km/h. The wonderful engine sound is, of course, courtesy of the specific M exhaust system.

The transmission is handled by the eight-speed M Steptronic gearbox with Drivelogic, which sends power through the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system in combination with the M active differential with variable operation on the rear axle. Braking is handled by M Compound brakes with red or black painted calipers, visible behind M lightweight alloy wheels forged in an exclusive double-spoke design, in a matt Gold Bronze or matt Black finish, measuring 19 inches at the front and 20 inches at the rear. Add to this specific chassis and electronics settings.

The BMW M3 CS Touring will also be built in limited numbers, with the first customer deliveries starting in March, at a price not yet disclosed.