Did you know that there was never a wagon version of the BMW M3 before this? 

Say hello to the first ever BMW M3 Touring, which is all set to celebrate its world premiere at the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK.

Produced alongside the BMW M3 Sedan at BMW Group Plant Munich, the first BMW M3 Touring features many M-specific design cues firmly invested in the functional requirements of cooling air routing and aerodynamic balance. 

These include the frameless BMW kidney grille, large side air intakes, powerfully sculpted wheel arches and prominently extended side skirts which, together with the attachment parts for the front and rear aprons, form a Black high-gloss band around the whole of the car.

Other distinctive features are the M gills in the front side panels and the exhaust tailpipes integrated into the rear apron to the left and right of centre.

Whatever exterior colour is specified for the BMW M3 Touring, its roof will be finished as standard in Black high-gloss. 

The standard roof rails and the model-specific Gurney air-directing flap on the roof spoiler are painted in the same shade. 

The roof can also be finished in body colour as an option, and an M Carbon exterior package can also be found on the options list.

Power comes courtesy of a six-cylinder in-line engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology developed for the Competition models in the BMW M3 and the M4, producing 510 hp and peak torque of 650 Nm. 

This 3.0-litre straight-six engine which also forms the basis for the unit in the new BMW M4 GT3 endurance racing car, is paired with an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic, which offers three gearshift programs and can be operated using shift paddles on the steering wheel. 

The engine’s power is channelled through to the road via the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system, which teams up with the Active M Differential at the rear axle. 

The need-based distribution of power across all four wheels optimises the traction of the BMW M3 Competition Touring with M xDrive, as well as its agility and directional stability. 

Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 3.6 seconds and the sprint from 0 to 200 km/h requires just 12.9 seconds. Opting for the M Driver’s Package increases the electronically limited top speed from 250 km/h to 280 km/h.

As well as the basic 4WD setting, the driver can also select 4WD Sport mode via the Setup menu. This provides an even more intense experience of the M xDrive system’s rear-biased tuning. Switching off DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) brings 2WD mode – a.k.a. pure rear-wheel drive – into play.

Inside, the BMW Curved Display will be fitted as standard. All relevant driving information are displayed with new graphics and in an M-specific style. M-specific widgets with information on the car setup and tyre condition can be shown on the control display’s home screen.

Electrically adjustable M Sport seats with memory function and seat heating plus Merino leather trim come as standard in the BMW M3 Touring. 

The rear compartment of the BMW M3 Touring has three full-size seats. The rear-seat backrest can be split 40 : 20 : 40. Folding down individual seat sections or all of them at the same time allows the car’s load capacity to be expanded from 500 litres to a maximum 1,510 litres. 

Automatic tailgate operation and the separately opening rear window are both standard. A storage compartment underneath the boot floor provides space for the luggage compartment cover and boot partition net.

Anti-slip rails that rise up automatically from the boot floor can be ordered as an option. These prevent items of luggage from sliding around in dynamic driving situations.

Comfort-enhancing features fitted as standard in the BMW M3 Touring include three-zone automatic climate control, the BMW Live Cockpit Plus including BMW Maps navigation system, ambient lighting, the hi-fi speaker system, and the interior and exterior mirror package. 

Customers can also benefit from a broad selection of automated driving and parking systems. Front Collision Warning, Speed Limit Display with no-overtaking indicator, Lane Departure Warning and Park Distance Control come as standard. 

Among the available options are the Driving Assistant Professional with Steering and Lane Control Assistant, Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go function, traffic light detection and Active Navigation, plus the Parking Assistant with Reversing Assistant.

The M Mode button on the centre console can be used to adjust the responses of the driver assistance systems and the content shown in the information display and Head-Up Display. BMW M3 Touring drivers can also choose from the ROAD, SPORT and TRACK settings.