The smaller of BMW’s performance wagons just got a significant performance bump.
The German automaker’s performance division just unveiled a more powerful version of the M3 Touring called the CS. Unfortunately, its latest Competition Sport variant isn’t currently destined for the US but that doesn’t make it any less impressive.
As the name may have given away, the M3 CS Touring is a long-roofed version of the exclusive M3 CS sedan BMW unveiled at the Daytona 500 in 2023. The performance four-door wears a body kit that gives its already sculpted shape even more edge. The kit includes several carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic elements, including on the hood, front splitter, mirror housings, and rear diffuser (the material is also used throughout the otherwise unchanged interior cabin).
Other model-specific details include yellow headlights like those found on the company’s GT race cars and red accents on the rear spoiler. The wagon is available in four colours—British Racing Green, Laguna Seca Blue, Frozen Solid White, and Sapphire Black Metallic—and with either matte black or gold bronze wheels.
Image courtesy of Uwe Fischer/BMW
The M3 CS Touring features the same upgraded powertrain found in the sedan it shares a name with. It may not be as hardcore as one of the company’s CSL variants, but its revised 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline-six makes an impressive 543 hp and 479 ft lbs of torque. That’s a bump of 20 extra horses over the standard wagon, while torque remains the same. The mill comes mated exclusively to an eight-speed automatic transmission that splits power to all four wheels and comes equipped with the automaker’s M Driver’s package. BMW claims that the added oomph will allow the wagon to sprint from zero to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds, to 124 mph in 11.7 seconds, and to a top speed of 186 mph.
Other mechanical upgrades include a retuned chassis, a new exhaust system, and an optional carbon-ceramic brake that can be painted either red or gold. The extensive use of carbon fibre, in and out of the vehicle, has also seen its curb weight fall by 33 pounds to 4,078 pounds.
Image courtesy of Uwe Fischer/BMW
Sounds mighty enticing, right? The M3 CS Touring does have one major flaw, at least if you live in the US, and that is that, at least for the time being, there are no plans to bring it across the Atlantic. BMW did bring over a wagon version of the M5 last year, so here’s hoping this changes at some point in the near future.
Click here for more photos of the BMW M3 CS Touring.
