BMW Just Proved Yet Again Why Wagons Reign Supreme

The car enthusiast community is defined by the variety of its differing opinions. Be it brand allegiances, body styles, powertrain preferences or even tire choice, it’s rare to find a consensus on anything. 

That said, there is one belief truth that pretty much anyone with a passion for four wheels can speak to: station wagons are awesome. By combining the space and practicality of an SUV with the speed and driving thrills of a sports sedan, they’re the ideal one-car setup.

BMW

In any case, if you’re not already a patron of the station wagon establishment, BMW’s M division has all the proof you need. In a true mic drop moment, the performance outfit has bettered its own record for the fastest estate to ever lap the Nürburgring.

‘Ring record-setter

With M development engineer and test driver Jörg Weidinger behind the wheel for the effort, a BMW M3 CS Touring wagon managed to lay down a blistering time of just seven minutes and 29.49 seconds.

Now, as previously mentioned, BMW already held the record. Back in 2022, the brand’s ‘standard’ M3 Touring took the fastest overall lap with a time of seven minutes and 35.060 seconds.

BMW

While a six-second delta might not sound like much on paper, it amounts to a marked improvement in the world of time trials. More impressively, the result puts the M3 CS Touring in close proximity to a number of notable vehicles.

For instance, along with the Camaro ZL1 and the C8 Corvette Stingray, BMW’s up-spec station wagon has proven to be faster around the ‘Ring than the Porsche Cayman GT4. Moreover, with a time of seven minutes and 28.76 seconds, BMW’s own M3 CS sedan lapped the Nürburgring less than a second quicker. Evidently, the wagon’s added practicality doesn’t amount to much of a time penalty.

BMW

Trackside testing

Of course, the M3 CS Touring is hardly an ordinary station wagon. In addition to being powered by a 550-horsepower twin-turbo inline-six, it also boasts specially tuned suspension and trick carbon-ceramic brakes.

Even still, a record like this wouldn’t be possible without BMW’s commitment to absolute record-setting authority. The automaker has maintained a partnership with the Nürburgring for over 25 years now, and the infamous German circuit serves as the site for its M Test Center.

BMW

Stateside alternative

The M3 CS Touring is currently available for order in Germany and priced at €152,900 (~$174,600). While BMW has stated that it will not be bringing its M3-based station wagon stateside, the brand does at least offer an M5 Touring model for those with a penchant for practicality (and sportiness). MSRP for the 5 Series performance wagon starts at $123,900.

BMW

2025 BMW M3 CS Touring

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