The station wagon silhouette is not forbidden at BMW Motorsport, which celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year.
The proof: twice, in 1991 and 2005, the M5 was entitled to this variation.
But this architecture has always been refused to the M3, leaving the field open to its competitors from Audi and Mercedes.
Truth be told, BMW has been beating around the bush for several decades.
With the E46 generation of 2000, the Motorsport sports division was ready to take action, but the management changed its mind at the last moment, judging the investment too high in view of the volumes.
The Motorsport engineers never gave up, thinking that their persistence would not end up paying off.
History has just proven them right.
A muscular figure
BMW
The sixth generation of the M3 Competition marketed since last year has just given birth to a splendid Touring station wagon version that many brand enthusiasts, eager to reconcile sportiness and versatility, have been calling for.
Declared rival of the Audi RS4 Avant, the M3 Competition Touring has the same dimensions as the M3 sedan.
In addition to the extension of the roof line, the main difference with the M3 relates to the volume of loading which can extend from 500 to 1,510 litres, rear seat folded down.
A capacity similar to that of the 3 Series Touring whose M3 Touring borrows the fairly modified bodywork.
BMW
The Touring version stays true to the twin-turbo 3-litre straight-six of the M3 and M4.
It delivers 510 horsepower and 650 Nm of torque. The mechanics are mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox.
Like the M4 Convertible, the M3 Touring is only available with an M xDrive four-wheel drive transmission which can switch to rear-wheel drive by deactivating DSC.
With 1,940 kilos on the scale, the M3 break With 1,940 kg on the scale in running order, the BMW M3 Touring is 85 kilos heavier than the M3 sedan.
BMW
At its launch next November, the M3 Touring will be delivered as standard with the large horizontal digital tablet combining the 12.3-inch instrumentation screen and the 14.9-inch infotainment screen.
As for the standard equipment and the list of options, they are largely inspired by the catalog of the M3-M4 duo.
The M3 Touring is priced at 111,950 euros, which is an extra 2,350 euros over the four-wheel drive M3 sedan.