The BMW M3 Touring Looks Perfect for the Autobahn

The 2023 BMW M3 Touring is the first longroof variant of the iconic sports sedan nameplate to reach production. The car brings a tantalizing blend of practicality and performance, thanks in part to its M3 Competition-sourced powertrain. Thanks to the team over at AutoTopNL, we now have a chance to see the M3 wagon pushed to its limits on an unrestricted stretch of the German Autobahn.

The 2023 BMW M3 Touring is currently on sale in Europe and other parts of the globe, but the car is not available in the United States. While that’s a downright travesty, BMW fans stateside will have some familiarity with the car’s performance recipe. Under the hood sits a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, which provides 503 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. That engine comes exclusively mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, which feeds power to all four-wheels via BMW’s xDrive system. The system features an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch pack that shifts torque front to rear, while a limited-slip differential in the back handles the left to right adjustments. All together the powertrain helps the M3 Wagon do 0-62 mph in just 3.6 seconds. That’s only a tenth slower than the lighter M3 sedan, which means you're not giving up much for the added practicality.

The standard M3 Touring comes equipped with BMW’s familiar 155-mph top speed limiter. Opt for the M driver's package, and BMW says that figure jumps up to 174 mph. AutoTopNL got to put those figures to the test with this unrestricted wagon. The car has no problem pushing past that 155-mph figure, slinking past it towards the top of sixth gear. We see this happen several times throughout the clip, and it's clear the car still pulls hard until around 170 mph. This proved to be an issue for the driver, as they’re forced to back out of several top speed runs due to catching traffic.

After a few more passes, the M3 Touring is able to push up to 179 mph on the car's digital speedometer. The GPS mounted on the windshield reads just below that speed, measuring in at 177 mph. While it’s possible that both readings are slightly off, it’s more likely that BMW’s top speed limiter is a bit more forgiving than expected. Considering how well these cars respond to modifications, we won’t be shocked to see modified M3 Tourings push well beyond the 180-mph mark.

You Might Also Like

• You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox

• Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners

• The Man Who Signs Every Car