The BMW M3 CS Touring blends track pedigree with everyday practicality

BMW M has never hidden its motorsport roots, but the new BMW M3 CS Touring leans into them more directly than most. 

The first-ever CS-badged Touring takes the already potent M3 Competition Touring with M xDrive and sharpens nearly every aspect of it, from power delivery and chassis tuning to weight reduction and aerodynamics. The result is a car that feels engineered first for the circuit, then adapted for everyday life, rather than the other way around.

Performance and engine

At the centre of the car is a 3.0-litre six-cylinder in-line engine producing 405 kW (550 hp) and 650 Nm of torque. Much of its engineering has been drawn directly from motorsport, including a rigid closed-deck crankcase, a forged lightweight crankshaft and a cylinder head featuring a 3D-printed core. BMW has also increased turbocharger boost pressure to 2.1 bar, helping the M3 CS Touring sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds.

The focus, however, is less about outright numbers and more about response. The engine mounts have been specially tuned to create a more rigid connection between the powertrain and chassis, delivering sharper reactions and a more immediate transfer of power. Paired with the eight-speed M Steptronic transmission and rear-biased M xDrive system, the setup is designed to maintain composure and traction even under sustained track driving.

Drivers can also tailor the experience through multiple drivetrain configurations, including a 4WD Sport mode and a pure rear-wheel-drive setting with stability control switched off. It is very much a car built around driver involvement rather than outright comfort.

Style and lightweight engineering

The visual changes to this Touring are equally purposeful and impressive. Carbon fibre-reinforced plastic is used extensively throughout the exterior, including the bonnet, front splitter, mirror caps and rear diffuser, contributing to a weight reduction of around 15 kilograms over the standard M3 Competition Touring.

BMW has also given the car several details that tie it more closely to GT racing machinery. The frameless kidney grille carries red accents unique to the CS model, while the LED headlights feature yellow daytime running lights inspired by endurance race cars. Available finishes, including British Racing Green, Laguna Seca Blue and Frozen Solid White, further separate it from the regular M3 range.

What makes the car particularly compelling is how BMW has balanced that racing character with everyday usability. The rear cargo space offers between 500 and 1,510 litres of capacity, allowing the car to function as a practical daily vehicle without compromising its dynamic capabilities. 

That dual-purpose philosophy and motorsport-led approach carry through to the cabin. A driver-focused cockpit featuring M Carbon bucket seats, Alcantara trim and red centre markers on the steering wheel sits alongside BMW’s latest iDrive system. Track-focused software functions such as the M Drift Analyser further reinforce the M3 CS Touring’s racing character, while maintaining the comfort and usability expected of a modern grand tourer.

In a market increasingly dominated by performance SUVs, the M3 CS Touring feels intentionally different. It remains unmistakably rooted in BMW M’s racing DNA, while offering the versatility that makes it usable far beyond the track.

Go further with the BMW M3 CS Touring.

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