BMW made a lot of faithful fans happy when it finally launched the M3 Touring, and they showed their appreciation with their wallets. The G81-generation M3 Touring was the first of its kind but it’s sold so well that it seems BMW is ready to make another. According to BMWBlog, the decision makers in Munich have decided to go ahead with a new generation of M3 Touring and it even already has an official chassis code: G88.
It shouldn’t come as much of a shock that a new M3 wagon is on the way, considering the customer buzz that’s surrounded it since. This current M3 Touring was an immediate social media darling and owners seem to love it. It’s been so popular that BMW even made extra spicy versions, like the M3 CS Touring. So it seemed inevitable that the M3 Touring would become a recurring feature in BMW’s lineup. However, what’s extra interesting this time around is that it might even cross the Atlantic.
The overall American market might not be in love with wagons, but some wagons sell well here. They normally need some sort of gimmick to sell, like going really fast (M5 Touring, Audi RS6 Avant) or having a pseudo off-road vibe (Audi A6 Allroad, Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain). But BMW was surprised enough by the success of the M5 Touring that it’s already considering the possibility of a normie U.S.-market 3 Series Touring. If a standard 3 Series wagon comes to America, an M3 version seems likely.
Regardless of market, the G88 M3 Touring will be the gas-powered version, not the electric Neue Klasse one. Neue Klasse cars’ chassis codes start with “N.” However, just like the standard G50 3 Series, the G88 M3 Touring will have similar styling to the Neue Klasse car. Engine-wise, it’ll come with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six with a mild-hybrid boost. Power is rumored to be around 550 horsepower and expect xDrive to be standard. The base M3 sedan might be rear-wheel drive, but the long-roof car will probably only be xDrive, as that’s how it is on the current crop of M3s.
Obviously, it’s good news that BMW is bringing the wagon back with this new generation of M3, even if it doesn’t come to the U.S. The more fast wagons in the world, the better. But this does seem like the prime time to bring it here, as performance wagons are finally gaining traction.