The new BMW M3 Touring is the next version of the performance wagon that we love to see but never seems to make it to the United States.
While we don’t seem to appreciate performance wagons in a world where SUVs and trucks reign supreme, we can certainly admire the incredible performance features BMW put together to make this car one for the record books. The new M3 Touring is a sporty AWD wagon that delivers the M3 prowess while offering owners the versatility of a family wagon with ample cargo room in the rear.
You Don’t Have to Opt for the Entire M3 Touring Package
The beauty in what BMW offers for the next model year is found in the fact that there are items that can be added to any wagon version of the 3-Series. This means you could order the body kit which brings some DTM inspiration to the mix. This body kit gives you parts made of carbon fiber, including a front splitter, canards, mirror caps, fender vents, side skirts, rear winglets, a roof spoiler, and a diffuser. These items give any 3-Series wagon the sport upgrades that make the look more fun and fast.
Don’t Forget the Performance Items
The new BMW M3 Touring is packed with cool performance features and many of those items make it to the market as additional items for your car. You can add the M Performance titanium exhaust system and hear the sounds you want from the centrally mounted, diagonally stacked exhaust tips. This feature delivers an amazing sound while also being 30 percent lighter than the standard exhaust, giving you just a little more juice when you take this car out for some fun on the track.
You’ll also see a pair of cool wheel options that can be added to your BMW. These wheels are the M Performance Y-Spot and M Performance Cross-Spoke models. The Y-Spoke wheels are 19-inches on the front and 20-inches in the rear. These wheels can be had in Jet Black Matte color. The Cross-Spoke wheels are one inch larger than the Y-Spoke models. The Cross-Spot models come in Jet Black Matte or Frozen Gold Bronze.
These items can give your car the look and upgraded sounds you want to show off when you dress up the wagon for some serious performance.
Are There Any M Performance Items in the Cabin?
Of course, there are. The M Performance interior treatments include Alcantara center armrests and footwell knee pads. The rear of the carbon-fiber bucket sets also wears this material, giving these seats a desired look and feeling for your drive. Aluminum M Performance badges can be found throughout the cabin to give you an incredible style.
The cabin upgrades also include open-pore matte carbon fiber for the door panels and LED door projectors that shine the BMW logo for you. Adding all of the upgrade elements to a 3-Series wagon can give you the BMW M3 Touring treatments you want to enjoy.
What Does the American Version of the BMW 3 Series Offer?
Even though we won’t see the BMW M3 Touring cross the Atlantic, because it’s a wagon, we do have plenty of models of the 3 Series that we can enjoy driving on our roads. The top model is the high-performance M3, but you’ll find a desirable drive and plenty of luxury features at every trim level. Whether you choose the standard 330i or you go to the top and drive the M3, you’ll have a car that offers you excellent driving performance and fun.
You Want to be in the Driver’s Seat
No matter the version of the BMW 3 Series you choose, the right place to be is in the driver’s seat. This is where all the action happens and you get to play with this car. Take this Beemer out on the highway and toss it around on the turns, let it run wild across the straight roads, and feel how it hugs the corners when you push it hard. Every model of this car is enjoyable and engaging to drive with the M3 being the Ultimate Driving Machine, which could be all you need to know about the top version.
Where Does All the Power Come From?
Two engines, two transmissions, but five power levels are what you find in the BMW 3 Series lineup. The 330i model uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine attached to an 8-speed automatic transmission. This gives you 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The 330e is a hybrid model that takes the 330i engine and adds an electric motor. This hybrid Beemer delivers 288 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque.
All other 3 Series models use a 3.0-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder engine. The M340i returns 382 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque for a powerful and enjoyable drive. the M3 places a 6-speed manual transmission in the tunnel and delivers 473 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. When moving to the M3 Competition, the 8-speed automatic is back in the mix. This top level of the 3 Series brings you 503 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque for the drive.
With so many different ways to power this luxury drive, it can be hard to figure out which one is the right BMW for you to enjoy when you head out on the road.
Its Not the Wagon, But It’s a Lot of Fun
We can lament the fact that the BMW M3 Touring does not make the ride over to our shores, or we can bask in the glory that is the Ultimate Driving Machine. Imagine taking the M3 on a road trip across the country with stops at various tracks along the way to run some fast laps. This is a gearhead’s ideal vacation, especially if they love the 3 Series and what this car brings to the market.
If you want to make that dream vacation a reality, you’ll need to see your local BMW dealer and order your M3 today.
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