When BMW announced the M3 Touring a few years ago, there were a lot of excited people. Especially in the United States. However, for American BMW fans, the excitement soon faded when they realized the car wasn’t coming to American shores.
BMW didn’t think it was worth the money and time to try to homologate the car for the American market. In fairness, they probably had a point, as it was unlikely to make as much money as it would in Europe; however, enthusiasts still weren’t happy to have missed out.
But it may be time for them to rejoice, as it looks like that is about to change. Reports have been coming in that the next-generation M3 could see the M3 Touring make its long-awaited debut in the United States. Finally giving American fans the chance to see what the station wagon is all about.
It would, of course, sit alongside the upcoming M3 sedan, the G84 generation. So far, there is no official word from BMW that this is actually happening. But there is no smoke without fire, and there is a high likelihood that it is indeed going to happen.
What Has Been Said About the Next M3 Touring?
Reports from BMWBLOG and the Bimmer Post forums, two respectable sources for BMW information, have strongly suggested that this is going to happen. The next generation will be the G88, and it is set to join the BMW lineup in 2028 or 2029, alongside the new M3 sedan, the G84.
But the reports from BMWBLOG go even further. A new 3 Series Touring definitely looks to be coming, as does, it would appear, the full-fat M version. This would be the G88 M3 Touring, and it would have a lot to live up to. The G81 M3 Touring has been one of the best-received cars in the BMW M lineup since it was introduced in 2022.
Since then, US enthusiasts have pushed hard for BMW to bring it to America. While that didn’t happen in this generation, clearly the demand has been there for it. But what has also helped BMW’s decision-makers is the data it has gathered from sales, in particular when it comes to the larger M5 Touring that proved that big and powerful station wagons can work in America.
The BMW M5 Touring Could Have Shaped the M3 Touring’s Future
Boosting the chances of the M3 Touring coming to the United States has been the success of the M5 Touring. It has done well for BMW. Much better than the manufacturer likely expected, so it means that the outcry for an M3 Touring will likely be matched, if not exceeded, by the sales figures. It’s one thing for enthusiasts to say they want something; it is another thing entirely for them to actually go and buy it.
As far as what the car will look like, well, that is up in the air right now. It is, however, expected to get the full Neue Klasse treatment, both inside and out. The horizontal, elongated kidney shape grille will likely replace the large kidney grille on the current M3. It should also have all-wheel drive as standard, and is likely to come exclusively with an automatic transmission. Finally, it looks like the cravings of American M3 fans will be satisfied.