Back in those glum days of 2020, you might remember a series of stories on PH called ‘The Road Not Taken’. Unable to leave the house much and without cars to drive, we had to get creative with content ideas, and writing about concepts that didn’t quite make it - and very much should have - seemed as good a hook as any.
The BMW M3 Touring was one of those great ‘what if?’ concepts, the glorious grey E46 that BMW had built at the turn of the century yet kept to themselves until the M3’s 30th birthday in 2016, as if ashamed about having created something so awesome and kept it from the world. Back when I was also writing about the 500hp Volvo C30 and Clio R.S.16, the M3 Touring seemed equally far-fetched: the M SUVs were going great guns, the M5 Touring hadn’t existed for more than a decade, and it was hardly like the M3 and M4 had ever struggled to sell without an estate variant. It just wasn’t going to happen. That E46 could live with cars like the E31 M8 as one of BMW’s better one-offs, and those who wanted a compact, rapid, all-wheel drive estate could buy an Audi, Alpina, or AMG.
Yet here we are, less than three years later, with a PH YouTube video in the UK of the actual G81 BMW M3 Competition Touring. I still can’t quite believe it happened, and I suspect some of that astonished glee might come through in the video. For everyone across the world that loves M cars and love estates, this is a huge deal. We’re on our sixth M3 (or M4) cabriolet, and finally the Touring is here - better late than never at all, eh?
You'll have read already that the M3 is a pretty epic device, bringing together the ferocious ability and distinct character of the saloon and coupe with the coolest bodystyle around. It really does look the business, too. That’s what we’ve aimed to capture in this video; hopefully, a big road trip feature will follow in time, showing off every facet of the car’s skillset in a longer look - for now, it’s straight into the nitty gritty. We wanted to do this video as soon as you wanted to see it. Enjoy.
SPECIFICATION | BMW M3 TOURING COMPETITION XDRIVE (G81)
Engine: 2,993cc, twin-turbo straight-six
Transmission: 8-speed auto, all-wheel drive
Power (hp): 510@6,250rpm
Torque (lb ft): 479@2,750-5,500rpm
0-62mph: 3.5sec
Top speed: 155mph
Weight: 1,865kg DIN, 1,940kg EU
MPG: 28-28.2
CO2: 230-227g/km
Price: £80,605 (price as standard; price as tested £103,135 (erk) comprised of BMW M 50 Years badges for £300, Ultimate Pack (Heated steering wheel, Comfort Access, Extended Storage Contents, M carbon bucket seats, Driving Assistant Professional, Laserlights, Parking Assistant Plus, Drive Recorder, M Carbon Exterior Styling) for £11,250, Frozen Pure Grey II metallic paint for £2,985 and M Pro Pack (M Carbon Ceramic Brakes with gold calipers and M Driver’s Pack) for £7,995
