Arguably one of the most highly-anticipated performance cars en route to South Africa, the local arm of BMW has confirmed when the first-of-its-kind M3 Touring will reach our shores. So, without any further ado, let’s start with the date of arrival… The M3 Touring — along with the revised M3 Competition sedan — is scheduled to land in SA during the fourth quarter of 2024.
So, what can you expect from the M3 Touring? For starters, the German marque’s performance-focused midsize wagon is available in only Competition guise and exclusively equipped with the Bavarian brand’s M xDrive all-wheel-drive system.
But what about the engine? Well, like is sedan stablemate, the M3 Touring employs BMW’s familiar 3.0-litre inline-six petrol. However, it’s worth noting that the turbocharged unit sited below these two models’ bonnets are the most powerful of its kind ever produced by the automaker.
Yup, you read that right. But first, a reminder: the pre-facelifted M3 Competition, which we’ve driven along with the M4, is endowed with 375 kW. The M3 Competition Touring and updated M3 Competition sedan, on the other hand, churns out 390 kW, on tap as soon as the rev needle edges the 6 250 r/min marker. Torque has, however, remained the same — 650 N.m, available from 2 750 r/min. Yet, for the upcoming models, the full complement of torque is available until 5 730 r/min (the current model’s stretches to 5 500 r/min).
According to the firm, “The result is even more ferocious, sustained power delivery that adds another layer of intensity to the performance experience — in particular when the driver is exploring the car’s dynamic limits — and enables impressive acceleration figures.”
So, how quick are these two M3s? Well, the sedan accelerates to the three-figure marker from a standstill in a claimed 3.5 seconds, while the high-performance wagon, despite its increase in weight, reaches 100 km/h only one-tenth of a second later. That’s impressive. The top speeds are rated at 290 km/h (sedan) and 280 km/h (Touring) when specified with the M Driver’s Package, the latter of which is standard on SA models.
As a reminder, the BMW M4 CS is also scheduled to make landfall in the fourth quarter of 2024. However, it’s worth noting that only a very limited number of units will arrive here. How many, you ask? Well, in short, 25 examples, each priced from R3 050 000 a pop.
