The BMW M3 CS Touring made its world premiere at the legendary Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit earlier today – scene of this weekend’s Bathurst 12 Hour endurance race. It marks the first time the German car maker has hosted a global unveiling in Australia.
The world premiere also comes after BMW M recorded its highest-ever sales total in Australia last year, with a 14.7 per cent increase compared with 2023. That result meant Australia ranked fourth worldwide for the share of BMW M registrations.
“The world premiere of a new BMW model is significant for any market and the fact we have been selected for the launch of the M3 CS Touring is an honour while highlighting the importance of Australia in the global context,” BMW Group Australia CEO Wolfgang Buechel said.
The global debut of the new model occurs just as BMW M Team WRT takes to the track for its third successive outing at the Bathurst 12 Hour, running a pair of M4 GT3s in the outright Pro class.
Its experienced driver line-up will again by bolstered by Valentino Rossi, the former nine-time world motorcycle champion and now successful race car driver. As for the car that could well be the ultimate sports wagon, it features bespoke design elements.
There’s also increased engine power and a bevy of carbon fibre (CFRP) components in a vehicle that builds on the success of the M3 Competition Touring with M xDrive. Under the hood is a high-revving 3.0-litre inline 6-cylinder M TwinPower turbo engine.
Paired to and 8-speed M Steptronic transmission and M xDrive all-wheel drive, it delivers 405kW of power and 650Nm of torque. It has a specially designed engine mounting with increased spring rates that creates an exceptionally rigid connection to the car’s structure.
The M3 CS Touring can achieve the standard sprint in a blistering 3.5 seconds, and from zero to 200km/h in 11.7 seconds. Its top speed is 300km/h thanks to the standard fitment of the M Driver’s Package.
The car’s stirring engine note comes courtesy of an M-specific exhaust system with electronically-controlled flaps, a titanium rear silencer and weight-minimising design. The two pairs of tailpipes positioned within the rear diffuser are finished in matte black.
The chassis has been tuned specifically to complement the powertrain’s performance characteristics, and the settings for the dynamic stability control and M Dynamic mode have been purposefully calibrated for circuit driving.
The electronically-controlled dampers on the adaptive M suspension are also a model-specific setup, as is the M Servotronic steering and integrated braking system. Body rigidity is further increased by the M front end strut brace in the engine compartment.
The immense stopping power of the M3 CS Touring is thanks to M Compound brakes with callipers, finished in red. Customers can also opt for M Carbon ceramic brakes. It’s fitted with M light-alloy wheels in an exclusive double-spoke design too.
These can be had in either a matte Gold Bronze or matte black finish and are staggered in diameter, measuring 19-inch at the front and 20-inch at the rear, shod with 275/35 ZR19 and 285/30 ZR20 track tyres as standard.
To be offered in four colours, including British Racing Green, Laguna Seca Blue (pictured), Frozen Solid White and Sapphire Black metallic, the M3 CS Touring sports a roof mounted spoiler and LED headlights (that glow in GT race car yellow).
The driver and occupants are treated to a sports car cockpit, as well as a highly practical 1,510-litres of cargo space. Model-specific highlights include electronically adjustable and heated M Carbon bucket seats for the driver and front passenger.
An M Alcantara steering wheel in a three-spoke design and additional CS badging on the centre console and sill plates, as well as the all-important M buttons that allow you to configure the engine, chassis, steering, brakes and M xDrive.
It also features M Drive Professional, integrating track-optimised functions such as M Drift Analyser and M lap timer. Running BMW OS 8.5, its 12.3-inch instrument display and 14.9-inch control display combine to provide the driver with a host of information.
This includes M shift lights, vehicle setup, tyre pressures and temperature. Other features include BMW Live Cockpit Professional, alongside a head-up display with M-specific content, which brings cloud-based navigation, smartphone integration and wireless charging.
Customer deliveries of the 2025 M3 CS Touring are expected in the middle of 2025, with pricing from $253,900 plus on-roads. For further information, visit the BMW Australia website, or contact your local dealership.
