Wicked fast station wagons with razor-sharp handling aren’t exactly a recent invention. Back in 1994, Audi and Porsche teamed up to bless the world with the stunning RS2 Avant, a four-wheel drive, turbocharged supercar with a long roof, plenty of cargo space, and seating for five.
Since then, we’ve seen a handful of station wagons from various manufacturers injected with the supercar sauce, creating genuinely functional vehicles that can just as happily serve up mind-bending driving thrills. From the twin-turbocharged V10, C6 Audi RS6 Avant to supercharged V8 Cadillac CTS-V wagons and RB26-powered Nissan Stageas, high-performance station wagons have earned themselves a cult following amongst automotive enthusiasts and savvy buyers alike.
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BMW
The BMW M3 CS Touring takes the term “performance wagon” to a whole new level
BMW’s lineup already benefits from having two unique performance wagons: the M3 Touring and the M5 Touring. The M3 CS Touring aims to offer something unique. While the other two wagons brilliantly exemplify the ethos of a “touring” car in their carefully balanced combination of performance and functionality, the CS takes a more extreme approach to wagon life.
The “CS” designation generally denotes a significantly hardened, track-focused variant of an already masterfully crafted BMW M product. For the M3 touring, that means a boost in power, a more aggressive chassis setup, more powerful brakes, a focus on weight reduction, and unique, striking aesthetic enhancements.
BMW
Despite the fact that it can haul you, a few sets of golf clubs, and some fellow pin seekers, the M3 CS Touring’s engineering is focused on enhancing its race track capabilities. This is reflected by mechanical upgrades such as a forged lightweight crankshaft, coated weight-saving cylinder bores to reduce frictional losses, extra rigid engine mounts, and an upgraded cooling system.
The twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter straight six pumps out a girthy helping of 550 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. When every bit of it courses through the wagon’s eight-speed M Steptronic transmission to all four wheels via its M xDrive all-wheel drive system, it can propel the wagon from 0 to 100km/h (62 mph) in just 3.5 seconds.
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BMW
Precision exhilaration is the CS Touring’s ethos
Aside from its sheer performance figures, the M3 CS Touring also offers a more viscerally exciting experience compared to the standard model. The estate comes standard with an M-specific exhaust system, which features electrically controlled flaps, a lightweight titanium rear silencer, and matte black quad tailpipes. This system will fill your ears with the straight-six swan song of one of BMW’s greatest hits.
If you really want to get your heart racing, the M3 CS Touring’s xDrive all-wheel drive system will let you route one hundred percent of its horsepower to the rear wheels exclusively. In keeping with BMW M tradition, this wagon can get seriously sideways if you provoke it.
BMW
The M3 CS Touring’s weight reduction efforts are boasted loud and clear through the liberal use of carbon fiber elements and other lightweight materials scattered around different areas of the vehicle. According to BMW, “The car’s bonnet, front splitter, front air intakes, exterior mirror caps, and rear diffuser are all made from [carbon fiber reinforced plastic].”
The use of lightweight materials extends inside the cabin, where M Carbon bucket seats will snugly hold you, exposed carbon fiber paddle shifters will eagerly tempt your fingertips, and carbon fiber trim accents are strewn throughout to give the space a “racing-car aura” that mirrors the overall tone of the CS.
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BMW
All that weight reduction effort means the CS Touring’s brakes don’t need to work as hard to bring things to a halt. But, just to be safe, the wagon comes equipped standard with M Compound steel brakes, with calipers painted in either red or black.
Are steel brakes not enough for you? M Carbon ceramic brakes are available as well, with calipers painted in either red or matte gold. Surrounding the braking systems are forged M light-alloy, CS-specific wheels with either a matte Gold Bronze or matte black finish, measuring 19 inches at the front and 20 inches at the rear, all wrapped up in track tire rubber. “Ultra-track” tires are available as well.
BMW
Final thoughts
The BMW M3 CS Touring is an extreme station wagon for extreme people who have extreme lifestyles. It’s the kind of car for people who might do a quick lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife in the morning, play a round of golf in the afternoon, and pick up their kids from their extracurricular activities in the evening.
Unfortunately, BMW still feels that the M3 CS Touring—or any variant of the M3 Touring—will not have enough appeal in the North American market to justify offering it here. This is a serious tragedy, in my opinion, because it means we’re missing out on what will certainly be one of the brand’s most coveted future classics.
Do you lust for a stateside offering of BMW’s glorious racing-bred station wagon icon, or do you think it would miss the mark of what North American buyers are looking for? If given the choice, would you take the M3 CS Touring over the M5 Touring, or vice versa? Let us know in the comments – we love to hear from you!
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