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Has BMW built the ultimate estate car?
Has BMW built the ultimate estate car?

Auto Express

time2 days ago

  • Automotive
  • Auto Express

Has BMW built the ultimate estate car?

Normally we'd think that the idea of a hardcore version of a practical estate car would be a little daft, but the small number of improvements to the CS model not only make it faster and more exciting than the standard M3 Touring, but better to live with every day, too. A more supple ride combined with even more devastating pace on track – plus the bonus of maintaining room for five and a 500-litre boot – means that this is about as close as things get to a car that can do it all. Advertisement - Article continues below This is the BMW M3 CS Touring: a car which shows that M division isn't shy in sparing its more practically minded customers the chance to access the CS experience. And if the past CS models are anything to go by, they're in for a treat. From the previous generations of the M2 and M5, plus the current M3 saloon and M4 coupé, those two letters have come to represent the sweet spot in their respective M car ranges; more performance, more ability, but not really at the expense of comfort. Not that the styling would have you believe that – the CS takes an already intimidating looking M3 and turns up the menace to a level that makes Hannibal Lecter look a bit meek. That huge front grille has been opened up further with fewer elements inside, and is bordered with a narrow red pinstripe. The same goes for the intakes either side, which are flanked by an enlarged front splitter, which, like the deeply sculpted bonnet, is made from carbon fibre. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below View M3 View M3 View M3 View M3 Staggered alloy wheels (19 inches in diameter at the front, 20 inches at the back) save 1kg per corner over a standard M3's rims and are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres. At the back, the changes are rounded off by a carbon fibre diffuser, CS badging plus a subtle red stripe on the trailing edge of the boot spoiler. Advertisement - Article continues below Configure your perfect BMW M3 through our Find A Car service now. Alternatively, check out the best deals out there on a new BMW M3 from stock or top prices on used BMW M3 models... Inside, there are more changes to trim weight. The centre console is all new; the carbon fibre unit loses a little storage compared to the standard car's, while the carbon fibre bucket seats – usually an option on other M3 cars – are standard on the CS. Those seats are still something of a bone of contention. They certainly look dramatic, but a hump in the seat base between the thighs can get in the way, especially for those who left-foot brake – something that isn't beyond the imagination of the driver of a car that, as we'll soon see, is more than capable of holding its own on a track. Combined with a high dashboard line relative to the seating position, plus an Alcantara-trimmed steering wheel that some drivers will find doesn't quite adjust low enough, and the driving position feeling a little compromised. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The criticisms of the CS pretty much end there, though, because when it comes to the mechanical changes, BMW has judged things brilliantly. Advertisement - Article continues below M division hasn't done anything wild here, but a series of subtle upgrades all start to add up. Those weight-reduction measures, for example, save just 15kg – pretty much impossible to notice in the context of a 1,925kg car – but they're a step in the right direction nonetheless. Likewise, individual chassis upgrades are very subtle. The suspension gains springs that are slightly stiffer than those of the M3 Competition, the dampers are tuned to complement them, while the antiroll bar droplinks are rose jointed. Strut braces help to add just a touch more body rigidity at the front, stiffer engine mounts aim to improve body control, while the software for the braking system has been adjusted. Our test car was equipped with carbon ceramic discs – a hefty £8,800 option. The M3 has never been short of power, but some minor changes to the 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight six, including engine management tweaks and a titanium exhaust back box, have liberated an extra 20bhp, taking the total to 542bhp. Torque stands at 650Nm, with drive, much like the Competition, going to all four wheels. We had the opportunity to drive the CS on the road and then track, with BMW providing us with a M3 Competition Touring on-road for a back-to-back comparison. While the changes between the two are minor, almost all of the differences swing in favour of the CS. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Some of those changes are unexpected, too. The first thing you notice is that the standard Competition fidgets a little over low-speed bumps, but this is much more suppressed in the CS. Over larger bumps, there's a touch less side-to-side movement, too. So while people might not expect to turn to a more hardcore model for more comfort, the CS is slightly more compliant than the standard car. Appreciating the difference of those extra 20 horses and 15 fewer kilos isn't something that'll present itself during on-road driving every day, but the extra grip of the more sticky tyres also weighs in, and the result is a car that delivers staggering point-to-point pace on dry roads. The grip is one thing, but the CS also has the poise, balance and composure to make the most of it. Point it into a corner and it simply sticks. Jump on the accelerator pedal, and all 542bhp slingshots you out of the corner and onto the next straight with phenomenal traction. Officially, 0-62mph takes 3.5 seconds, and we don't have the slightest reason to dispute that. The noise of that titanium exhaust lends the M3 some extra rasp that adds a touch more excitement to an already angry yet tuneful engine note. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below This is a car, then, that's so quick over almost any ground that you'll need a track to make the most of it. Thruxton, where we drove it, proves to be a huge challenge for any road car; it's hugely fast, yet there's hardly a straight bit of tarmac anywhere. This makes braking tricky; getting slowed down for the first complex starts as the car is loaded up in the previous left-hander, requiring a deft feeling on the left pedal – plus body control that isn't going to cause any nasty surprises. It's in these situations that you'd never believe that you're pushing an estate car around so quickly, until you glance over your shoulder and see the spacious cabin behind. While there's a lot of mass at play, the response from the brakes, allied to a chassis that feels neatly balanced front to rear, means that you can trust the car implicitly. That stability enables the brakes to be eased off through the turn – one way of trying to mitigate a touch of understeer that appears as you really lean hard on the front axle. We'd like a little more feedback through the wheel to really feel when that limit is arriving, though. Of course, the other way to deal with overloaded front tyres is to use that huge power to push the car around from the rear. The engine has so much effortless grunt from low down that there's always power to play with, and the torque arrives so progressively that the throttle can be metered out really precisely. Coming from the right of Campbell into the left at Cobb, the direction change is superb, with a pointy front end helping the CS switch like a car that feels much lighter. Emerging onto the faster sections of track, it delivers incredible grip, and while that steering still lacks a little information, it loads up nicely as the speed builds. Tackle the staggeringly fast Church corner and the M3's poise once again comes to the fore, with the speed building towards the final chicane, while the carbon brakes deliver relentless stopping power and show no signs of fade. And all of this in an estate car. At £120,600, it may not be cheap, but it would be a very fun way to embarrass some much more exotic machinery at a track day. Above all else, it's still got a boot large enough to bring a set of spare wheels and tyres for the journey home, too. Model: BMW M3 CS Touring Price from: £120,600 Powertrain: 3.0-litre twin-turbo 6cyl Power/torque: 542bhp/650Nm Transmission: Eight-speed auto, four-wheel drive 0-62mph: 3.5 seconds Top speed: 186mph Economy: 26.9mpg CO2: 240g/km Size (L/W/H): 4,796/1,447/1,918/mm On sale: Now Share this on Twitter Share this on Facebook Email Hyundai reduces prices across its entire EV range Hyundai reduces prices across its entire EV range Korean brand acts swiftly to cut prices on all its electric cars, amid confusion over Government's grant scheme Congestion Charge EV exemption removal to generate over £75million per year Congestion Charge EV exemption removal to generate over £75million per year TfL is planning to raise the Congestion Charge to £18, and EV drivers will have to pay too Dacia's baby EV due in 12 months with a tiny £15k price tag Dacia's baby EV due in 12 months with a tiny £15k price tag Dacia's new model will be developed in double-quick time, and it'll be built in Europe to avoid China tariffs

New BMW M3 CS Touring Gets 550 Horsepower And Lots Of Carbon Fiber
New BMW M3 CS Touring Gets 550 Horsepower And Lots Of Carbon Fiber

Yahoo

time30-01-2025

  • Automotive
  • Yahoo

New BMW M3 CS Touring Gets 550 Horsepower And Lots Of Carbon Fiber

Wagon fans and enthusiasts rejoice! Following in the footsteps of the M2 CS pocket rocket, the hardcore M3 CS and the excellent M4 CS, BMW is adding another track-focused CS model to its portfolio. Witness the M3 CS Touring, a lighter and more powerful version of the brand'sM3 Touring wagon. BMW followed the same recipe it's done in the past with previous CS models like the M3 CS by adding more power and and removing weight. The M3's excellent twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-6 gets new engine management software and a higher boost pressure charge, increasing output to 550 horsepower, up 20 hp versus the M3 Competition Touring. BMW says that's enough power to get the M3 CS Touring to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds, a tenth quicker than the Competition, andmy experience with M3s, BMW is probably being conservative. The wagon's stability control system, drive modes, adaptive suspension and dampers all get CS-specific tuning. Lightweight forged alloy wheels have a 275/35 ZR19 front and 285/30 ZR20 rear staggered setup, and M Carbon Ceramic brakes are optional. The biggest upgrades to the M3 CS Touring are its extensive use of carbon fiber for weight savings. The hood, front splitter, air intakes, mirror caps and rear diffuser are all made out of carbon fiber. Inside, the seats, trim, shift paddles and center console are all made out of carbon as well. BMW says all this carbon-fiber use shaves 33 pounds off the M3 CS Touring's weight when compared to a standard M3 Touring Competition. There's no word on price, but it doesn't matter anyway because like the normal M3 Touring, the M3 CS Touring isn't for us here in North America. That could change, though, as BMW has mentioned if it gets enough buyers to go for the M5 Touring in our market it could bring over the M3 Touring, likely the next-gen model. Until then we'll just have to watch from afar as the rest of the world gets to have all the fun. BMW says sales of the limited-edition M3 CS Touring will start in March 2025. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

View Photos of the 2025 BMW M3 CS Touring
View Photos of the 2025 BMW M3 CS Touring

Yahoo

time30-01-2025

  • Automotive
  • Yahoo

View Photos of the 2025 BMW M3 CS Touring

The BMW M3 CS Touring is the German automaker's latest high-powered sports car for the family, packing the same upgrades found on the 2024 M3 CS sedan but with an even more practical longroof body style. Read the full story Under the hood lives a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, which now produces 543 horsepower. That's an extra 20 ponies over the M3 Competition, largely the result of a higher boost pressure for the turbochargers. Torque output remains unchanged compared to the Competition at a healthy 479 pound-feet. Along with extra power, the CS's other distinguishing feature is the extensive use of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP), which can be found on the hardcore bucket seats. Carbon trim is littered throughout the rest of the cabin too, which is also decorated with red accents. CFRP is also found across the exterior, including the grille, front splitter, rear diffuser, and hood, the latter of which shows off the weave with two exposed stripes. The M3 CS Touring comes exclusively with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. BMW claims the M3 CS Touring will blast from zero to 62 mph in just 3.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 186 mph. Unfortunately, the M3 CS Touring will only be offered in Europe, Australia, Japan, and South Korea, and will remain forbidden fruit for American enthusiasts. Keep scrolling to see more photos of the BMW M3 CS Touring. You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!

2025 BMW M3 CS Touring Is One Wild Wagon—but Not for the US
2025 BMW M3 CS Touring Is One Wild Wagon—but Not for the US

Yahoo

time30-01-2025

  • Automotive
  • Yahoo

2025 BMW M3 CS Touring Is One Wild Wagon—but Not for the US

BMW is expanding its legendary CS package to the wagon version of the M3, which is not sold in the United States. The M3 CS Touring is scheduled to reach customers in March 2025. This high-output wagon uses a 3.0-liter turbocharged I6 to send 543 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic before hitting the xDrive AWD system. If you've always thought your BMW M3 CS was cool, but you wanted to use it to haul more stuff, you're in luck: BMW has added those two important letters to its M3 Touring models for the first time. That means you can buy a BMW M3 CS wagon in a few select markets. This model takes the already potent M3 Touring and gives it the Competition Sport treatment. Under the hood is the same basic powertrain from the M3 CS: a 3.0-liter turbocharged I6 that sends 543 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels through the standard xDrive AWD system. The M3 Touring also gets the carbon-fiber goodies of the M3 CS sedan. That means the hood, front splitter, mirror caps, and rear diffuser are made from carbon fiber-reinforced plastics. Carbon fiber also enters the cabin with a set of M Carbon bucket seats, CFRP paddle shifters, and some interior trim strips. This weight savings isn't huge over the M3 Competition Touring, but it does shave 15 kg (33 pounds) off the curb weight. You can add some weight back with the optional front strut brace. The big difference between the M3 CS and this new Touring variant is, well, the wagon shell. BMW says the M3 Touring CS offers 500 liters of cargo space (17.7 cubic feet) in imperial measure. That expands to 1,510 liters (53.3 cubic feet) with the second-row seats down. That's more than enough extra storage to help ease your daily commute while you're hustling to your local track day. Underneath the M3 CS Touring is a set of adaptive M Suspension dampers, which BMW says is model specific. Those dampers manage a pair of 19-inch wheels in the front and 20-inch rims in the back. Sitting behind those wheels is a set of red or black finished calipers that use M Compound brakes. You can upgrade to a set of M Carbon brakes if you want the extra performance and can handle the cost. Speaking of price, the BMW M3 CS Touring will set you back €152,900 in Germany. That translates to $159,315 if you can find one at MSRP. That might also include hopping on an airplane and finding a place to store your new M3 CS Touring because it is not currently slated for the US market. However, with the success Audi has had bringing over a limited number of its RS6 Avant models, it might be a smart play from BMW. Do you think the US will get an M3 Touring? What about an M3 CS Touring? Tell us your thoughts below.

543-HP BMW M3 CS Touring: Peak Performance and a Wagon's Workload
543-HP BMW M3 CS Touring: Peak Performance and a Wagon's Workload

Yahoo

time30-01-2025

  • Automotive
  • Yahoo

543-HP BMW M3 CS Touring: Peak Performance and a Wagon's Workload

BMW has revealed the CS Touring, which—like the —produces 543 horsepower from its twin-turbo straight-six. The CS features retuned dampers and plenty of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic to cut out 33 pounds versus the M3 Competition Touring. Sadly, as with the standard , the CS won't be offered in the United States. Just a couple of days after releasing a pair of teaser videos, BMW unveiled the M3 CS Touring, an even more focused version of its potent station wagon. The Touring follows the same formula as the M3 CS sedan that BMW sold for the 2024 model year, boosting power from the inline-six engine, retuning the chassis, and shedding weight. Unfortunately, as with the standard M3 Touring, we'll have to admire the CS from afar, as this sporty longroof won't be sold in America. The CS starts with a M3 Competition and injects an extra 20 horsepower, taking the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder to a total of 543 ponies. This extra oomph is attributed to a higher turbo boost pressure, up from 24.7 to 30.5 psi. Torque output is the same as the standard Competition model at 479 pound-feet. Like on the sedan, the CS introduces stiffer engine mounts, and BMW touts a cooling system and oil-supply system tailored to hardcore track driving. The M3 CS also offers an optional front-end strut brace for the engine compartment. The engine is hooked up to an eight-speed automatic transmission distributing power to all four wheels. The CS also features an upgraded exhaust with electronically controlled baffles and a titanium rear silencer. BMW claims the wagon will rip from zero to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds, while 124 mph will arrive in 11.7 seconds. The CS comes standard with the M Driver's package, unlocking the M3's 186-mph top speed. BMW says the electronically controlled dampers, steering, and brakes have been returned for the CS model. The standard brake calipers come painted in either red or black, but buyers can also upgrade to carbon-ceramic brakes painted either red or gold. The brakes hide behind forged alloy wheels finished in either matte black or matte gold bronze, measuring 19 inches up front and 20 inches at the rear. The M3 CS Touring is also distinguished by the extensive use of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic, as seen on the hood's two exposed strips, the front splitter, side-mirror housings, and rear diffuser. The material also appears on the grille, which shares the signature red lining with BMW's other CS models, and the rear spoiler gets the same red decoration. CFRP also makes its way into the cabin on the shift paddles, competition-spec bucket seats, and other interior trim. All told, the M3 CS Touring is around 33 pounds lighter than a standard M3 Competition Touring, which doesn't sound like all that much considering the amount of carbon weave found throughout the wagon. The M3 CS Touring is also separated from lesser M3 Tourings by its yellow LED headlight units, a reference to BMW's GT race cars. Four colors are available for the CS: British Racing Green, Laguna Seca Blue, Frozen Solid White, and Sapphire Black metallic. As with past CS models, the M3 CS Touring will be a limited-production affair, although BMW didn't specify a production cap. Deliveries will start in March for customers in Europe, Australia, Japan, and South Korea. Sadly, they will never start in America, and we'll have to wait until 2050 before we can legally import one. You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!

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