BMW's M3 CS Touring: When Grocery Runs Need More Horsepower
BMW finally answered the prayers of fast wagon enthusiasts. Then they cranked the volume to 11.
The Ultimate Family Hauler Gets Unhinged
The M3 CS Touring takes BMW's already potent M3 wagon and injects it with pure motorsport steroids.
This isn't your neighbor's crossover pretending to be sporty.
The 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six now belches out 550 hp and 650 Nm of torque thanks to increased boost pressure of 2.1 bar and engine management tweaks that would make your ECU tuner blush.
It screams all the way to a 7,200 rpm redline, with peak power hitting at 6,250 rpm.
The result? A family wagon that demolishes 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and keeps pulling to 300 km/h when equipped with the M Driver's Package.
Carbon Fiber Diet Plan
BMW's engineers took a scalpel to the standard M3 Touring, shaving 15 kg through strategic use of carbon fiber components:
- Carbon hood with aggressive cooling vents
- Carbon front splitter with red accents
- Carbon fiber side mirrors
- Carbon fiber rear diffuser
- Carbon fiber grille surrounds
The weight reduction isn't revolutionary, but the aero improvements are tangible. This wagon cuts through air like it's angry at it.
Chassis That Means Business
The suspension received the full CS treatment.
Individual tuning of axle kinematics, bespoke camber settings, and recalibrated dampers transform this wagon from merely fast to genuinely track-capable.
The M xDrive all-wheel drive system offers multiple personalities. Leave it in 4WD for daily duties, switch to 4WD Sport when pushing hard, or disable DSC entirely for rear-wheel drive drift mode when you've dropped the kids off.
Carbon-ceramic brakes with either red or gold calipers are available for those who plan to abuse this wagon properly.
Practical Performance
Inside, M Carbon bucket seats wrapped in Merino leather and Alcantara grip you firmly while still offering electronic adjustment and heating.
The flat-bottom Alcantara steering wheel features a red center stripe for when you're pretending you're at the Nürburgring instead of Costco.
Cargo space remains impressive – 500 liters standard, expanding to 1,510 liters with seats folded. Because what good is face-melting acceleration if you can't bring home a flat-pack bookshelf?
Europeans, Australians, Japanese and South Koreans get to enjoy this masterpiece. Americans? Keep dreaming.
The M3 CS Touring proves BMW still knows how to build machines that deliver visceral thrills while hauling groceries. It's what happens when engineers – not focus groups – get the final say.
