2023 BMW M3 Touring sets new Nürburgring record

UPDATE, June 17: M3 Touring sets new Nürburgring record for wagons

The upcoming BMW M3 Touring is the fastest wagon to ever lap the world famous Nürburgring Nordschleife, building the hype ahead of its debut.

In a video posted by BMW's M division, the Munich team shows off the preparation and parts of the long-roof M3's hot-lap around the track, with its 7:35.060 time making it not only the fastest wagon to lap the circuit but also even faster than the F90 M5 Competition.

BMW has also confirmed it will finally take the covers off the new model at next week's Goodwood Festival of Speed, with the M3 Touring making its dynamic debut up the hillclimb.

The story to here

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March 18: Leaked images surface

Pictures of the 2022 BMW M3 Touring have emerged online, ahead of the wagon’s official reveal.

Just days after BMW showed off the Touring’s rear-end, Spanish car spy outlet Cochespias posted these low-resolution images of the M3 wagon on Instagram, crediting account @bmw_m_collector with the scoop.

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The vehicle appears to be painted in matte Frozen Black, matched with black alloy wheels, and complete with the M3’s controversial coffin grille.

While the leaked images don’t hold any great surprises, it is the first time the vehicle has been seen in full and without camouflage, suggesting the model’s launch could be mere days or weeks away.

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March 15, 2022: Rear design shown off

For the first time since it was first teased, BMW has shown off the rear design of its upcoming M3 Touring.

So far only teased in camouflage and rendered by some online artists (further below), this is the first we've seen of the M3 Touring's rear since it was revealed – and it looks just as good as we thought.

Although the video starts with a look back at BMW's first M3 Touring concept car in E46 guise, it gradually makes its way across to its modern counterpart to show off some of its features.

From what we've seen before, the car's front end will remain unchanged from the M3 sedan, retaining its divisive vertical kidneys, while the rear diffuser looks to be even more aggressive than its four-door sibling.

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March 8, 2022: M3 Touring to coincide with BMW M's 50th anniversary

We are edging ever-closer to the launch and official reveal of BMW's M3 Touring – the first-ever high-performance 3 Series wagon to wear the iconic M badge.

While BMW continues to drip-feed information and camouflage shots of the M3 Touring, its latest campaign sees the car's upcoming reveal tied in with celebrations for the M division's 50th year.

Driving through the alps behind fellow M siblings such as the sedan M3 and M4 coupe, the Touring pops out at the end, introduced as a 'once in a blue moon' evolution combining skills "as never seen before".

BMW also claims the M3 Touring achieves a provisional WLTP-rated fuel consumption figure of 10.3L/100km – just 0.1L/100km more than the standard M3.

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January 24, 2022: M3 Touring undergoes winter testing

The winter proving ground of Arjeplog has been the latest testing venue for BMW's upcoming M3 Touring, as the long-roof performance car gets shaken down on the ice.

In preparation for its hoards of customers who will likely use the spacious 3 Series to head to the Alps, BMW has taken its latest performance vehicle to the motor industry's favourite winter testing facility in Sweden to see if it can withstand the freezing temperatures.

It's expected the M3 Touring will only go on sale in xDrive Competition guise, gaining all-wheel drive to ensure its 370kW/650Nm twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engine can put power to the ground in all conditions.

Bavarian automotive enthusiasts from BMW Blog have rumoured the M3 Touring could be one of the first models to be released after the 3 Series's expected mid-life facelift – potentially gaining a curved infotainment screen at its debut.

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December 21, 2021: M3 Touring renders revealed

Christmas is almost here but for some, it won't be coming until next year when BMW finally reveals the new M3 Touring.

One of its most-requested models since the inception of the E30 M3, its popularity is measured in the number of renders made ahead of its official unveiling, with everyone dying to tease a bit more of the long-roof M car.

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In this instance, Instagram user Sugarchow has interpreted what the M3 Touring might look like, and bold seems like the appropriate word to use, especially when it's finished in Sao Paulo yellow.

As much as the extended roof takes our eyes to the back, it's hard to miss the distinctive front grille.

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September 28: BMW releases first M3 Touring teaser

The wait is almost over – BMW has officially teased the pre-production M3 Touring for the first time.

Confirmed last year to join the existing M3 sedan and M4 coupe/convertible range, the long-roof will be the first ever official wagon in the M3's history – set to be powered by the same 3.0-litre, twin-turbo straight-six engine as the rest of the range, but with a decent amount more boot space.

Teased in a post on BMW M's Facebook page, the numberplates match those on the car which was spied undergoing testing last year – which also retained the M3/M4's controversial buck-tooth grille – although this time it sports graphics down the side hinting at the Nürburgring being used as its home for testing.

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Render from Kolesa

While the camo hides its portions well, Russian publication Kolesa has teased what the wagon could look like in a deeper, more metallic version, in BMW's Toronto Red (above), highlighting its wide rear haunches and black lower diffuser.

With the modified car community undoubtedly eager to get its hands on the M3 Touring, Instagram user magnus.concepts showed off his render of a slammed example on aftermarket wheels (below) – also featuring a more aggressive front splitter, side skirts and rear diffuser.

Expected to debut next year, the M3 Touring could feature BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive system, making it a direct competitor to the long-roof Audi RS4 and Mercedes-AMG C63.

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Render from magnus.concepts