BMW has confirmed that its high-performance BMW M3 Touring wagon will continue in the Neue Klasse era. This decision was made amid unexpectedly high demand for the model not only in Europe, but also in the US and Chinese markets, where wagon cars are traditionally not very popular, Autocar reports.

Although the sporty M3 sedan is now in its sixth generation, the Touring version appeared only in 2021, together with the G80/G81 generation. However, the commercial success of this model was so significant that BMW decided to retain it in the next generation of the M3. The future M3 has already been partially shown in the Vision M Neue Klasse concept. It is expected that the model will be available both with a traditional internal combustion engine and in a fully electric version.

The current M3 Touring is equipped with a 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged inline-six engine with a capacity of 523 horsepower. According to preliminary data, an upgraded version of this engine will also be retained in the new generation. At the same time, BMW is developing a fully electric modification with four electric motors.

In an interview with Autocar, BMW M sales boss Sylvia Neubauer called the M3 Touring one of the division’s most successful models. According to her, the car’s success in China was especially unexpected.

There, BMW does not offer a regular third-series station wagon at all, but decided to sell exclusively the M3 Touring. As a result, the model has turned into a unique status car and has shown high sales results. The car was no less successful in the US, another market where crossovers and large SUVs traditionally dominate, while classic station wagons are considered a niche product.

According to Neubauer, the demand for the M3 Touring has arisen almost without any additional promotion by the company. "Our dealers are so happy to have this car, because they don't have to push it," she said. "There's demand, and they're asking for more and more production, so we've been increasing the volume." This model’s success is particularly noteworthy amid a general trend in the automotive market, where station wagons are gradually giving way to crossovers.

However, BMW believes that the combination of the practicality of a family body and the characteristics of a full-fledged sports car is in demand even in countries where such a format was not previously popular. The preservation of the M3 Touring also emphasizes BMW’s strategy to simultaneously develop electric and gasoline models. Unlike some competitors, the company intends to offer station wagons with both conventional engines and electric powertrains in the new generation of the 3 Series family.