BMW M3 CS Touring Sets Nürburgring Record, Becomes Fastest Wagon Ever originally appeared on Autoblog.
While most automakers are busy inflating crossovers with mood lighting and pretending it’s performance, BMW has done something that actually matters. It turned a family wagon into a track-dominating monster. The new BMW M3 CS Touring is now officially the fastest production wagon ever to lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife, setting a verified time of 7 minutes 29.5 seconds.
To put that in perspective: it’s quicker than a Ferrari 599 GTB, within spitting distance of a Porsche Cayman GT4 RS, and yes, it still has room in the back for your dog, golf clubs, or both. The lap was driven by BMW M development ace Jörg Weidinger, who also set the M3 Touring’s previous record two years ago. This new CS just wiped the floor with it.
What’s Under The Hood?
The CS Touring uses the same 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six from the M3 CS sedan, tuned to 543 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. It’s mated to an eight-speed M Steptronic automatic transmission and sends power to all four wheels via BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system. The result? 0–60 mph in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 180 mph with the optional M Driver’s Package.
This isn’t just a power upgrade. It’s a full send. BMW shaved weight with a carbon fiber roof, hood, splitter, diffuser, and optional carbon bucket seats. Throw in semi-slick tires, stiffer adaptive dampers, and a more aggressive stability program, and you’ve got a wagon that thinks it’s a track day hero.
Why It Matters
The M3 CS Touring isn’t just a Nürburgring trophy hunter. It’s the halo product for a performance division that’s currently having its best year ever. BMW M sold over 106,000 cars in the first half of 2025, a record-breaking start powered in part by high-performance wagons like this one — as shown in BMW’s latest sales report.
It also proves BMW hasn’t lost its edge. While other car companies chase electric blobs with overstyled faces, BMW is still building sharp, focused, driver-first machines. It’s also beating Mercedes in the 2025 U.S. luxury sales race while it’s at it — here’s how they pulled ahead.
Even the design, while familiar in M-car form, nods to the future. The upcoming Neue Klasse platform promises a radical shift, but as this design preview shows, the soul of BMW performance isn’t going anywhere.
What’s The Catch?
You can’t buy it in the U.S. That’s the bad news. BMW says the M3 CS Touring will be Europe-only, which is basically a punch to the gut for American wagon fans. It’s expected to cost around $145,000, and production will be extremely limited. So even in Europe, you’ll need deep pockets and serious connections.
Final Thoughts
This is what happens when BMW M is allowed to go all-in. The M3 CS Touring is fast, focused, and properly exciting — and unlike most performance SUVs, it actually deserves to exist. We might not get it in the U.S., but we can at least admire it from afar. Through gritted teeth.
BMW M3 CS Touring Sets Nürburgring Record, Becomes Fastest Wagon Ever first appeared on Autoblog on Aug 1, 2025
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
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