The BMW M3 Touring has always felt like forbidden fruit for American performance-car buyers.
That could change with the next generation, as the upcoming long-roof M3 is now tipped for a possible US arrival toward the end of the decade.
If it happens, it would give BMW’s M division a sharper, more compact wagon counterpart to the larger M5 Touring and a rare direct answer to enthusiasts who want genuine utility without giving up the character of an M3.
At a glance
- The next BMW M3 Touring is expected to use the internal codename G88 and may be planned for the US market.
- It is tipped to use an updated six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid assistance, all-wheel drive and an automatic transmission.
- A launch could land toward the end of the decade, alongside the next M3 sedan understood to carry the G84 codename.
The G88 codename and a more global M3 wagon
The next M3 Touring is understood to be known internally as G88, placing it alongside the future M3 sedan, which is expected to be identified as G84.
BMW hasn’t announced the model for the US, but the idea no longer feels far-fetched.
The current M3 Touring never made it to American showrooms, despite strong enthusiasm from BMW M fans who have long asked for a proper M wagon below the M5.
The recent arrival and warm reception of the larger M5 Touring may have changed the business case.
For BMW, the logic is straightforward.
A new M3 Touring for the US would not need to pretend to be a crossover, and it would give the brand a halo product for buyers who want performance, cargo space and a lower-slung driving position in one car.
A revised straight-six with mild-hybrid support
The next M3 is expected to continue BMW M’s long relationship with the inline-six, though the engine is being described as a new type of six-cylinder rather than a simple carryover.
That points to an evolution of the current twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre formula rather than a clean break from it.
A mild-hybrid system is also expected to be part of the package.
That would help BMW manage tighter emissions requirements while avoiding the extra weight and complexity of a plug-in hybrid layout.
For an M3, that distinction matters.
The badge has always relied on response, balance and repeatable performance, and a lighter electrified assist system would make more sense than a large battery if BMW wants to preserve the car’s edge.
Output figures are still being kept quiet.
Still, expectations will be high, especially since the limited-run M3 CS Touring already pushed the current wagon formula to 543 hp.
All-wheel drive looks set to become the default
The next M3 Touring is expected to use all-wheel drive as standard, paired exclusively with an automatic transmission.
That will disappoint anyone still holding out for a rear-drive, manual M wagon, but it reflects where the highest-output M3 variants have been heading for some time.
BMW’s M xDrive system has become a defining part of the modern M3 and M4 performance envelope, giving the cars the traction needed to deploy big turbocharged power without turning them into one-dimensional straight-line machines.
In wagon form, standard all-wheel drive also makes practical sense.
This is the version of the M3 most likely to be used year-round, in mixed weather, with family luggage or weekend gear in the back.
The automatic-only approach is less romantic, but it is also consistent with the performance and emissions direction of the segment.
America may finally be ready for an M3 Touring
The M3 Touring’s potential US debut would arrive at an interesting moment for enthusiast cars.
Performance wagons remain niche, but they have become more desirable precisely because they’re uncommon.
For a buyer who doesn’t want the height or image of an SUV, an M3 Touring offers a very particular kind of appeal.
It promises the compact aggression of an M3, the usability of a wagon and the sort of daily-driver flexibility that makes high-performance sedans feel a little compromised by comparison.
The timing also matters.
As more performance cars move toward heavy electrification, a next-generation M3 Touring with a sophisticated mild-hybrid straight-six could occupy a sweet spot between tradition and regulation.
It won’t be the purist choice if the manual disappears from the equation, but it could be the most complete M3 for real-world use.
For now, the G88 remains one of BMW M’s most intriguing future prospects rather than a confirmed showroom car.
If the US launch comes together, the next M3 Touring could become the wagon American BMW fans have been waiting decades to buy.
