The iconic BMW M3 has been making enthusiasts happy since 1986, but despite the nameplate's 34-year-long presence on the market, the German automaker did not produce a wagon version. This decision is rather strange given that both Mercedes-Benz and Audi offered AMG and RS variants of their compact wagons, but BMW finally came to its senses in 2020. The Bavarian carmaker just confirmed that it is testing the first-ever M3 Touring and that a production version will arrive sometime in 2022.

Better late than never

It's quite frustrating that it took BMW more than 30 years to build a station wagon version of the M3, but I guess it's better late than never. There's nothing surprising about its design since it's a current-generation 3 Series Touring with beefed-up fenders and a sporty diffuser that houses a quad-exhaust layout. Although it's a brand-new model, its design isn't much of a mystery. We already know how M models look compared to their standard counterparts. What's more, the M3 sedan is set to be unveiled later in 2020, so we will have a complete picture of the M3 Touring: the rear end from the teaser and the entire section from the nose to the B-pillars from the four-door model.

Here's a lightened up version of the same teaser image that reveals a little more of the upper bodyline.

The BMW M3 Touring will take two years to develop

This seems a bit long given that the M3 sedan is ready to be launched, but the heavier wagon body may give BMW engineers a few headaches in creating a grocery getter that's as fast and dynamic as the four-door. The station wagon will be tested on the Nurburgring Nordschleife starting August 2020, so it will become a regular sighting on the German race track. Of course, our paparazzi will be on sight to take snaps of the new performance sedan, and you will see it slowly losing camouflage on TopSpeed.com.

The BMW M3 Touring will be just as powerful as the sedan

BMW confirmed that the M3 Touring will feature a turbocharged six-cylinder under the hood, and this basically means that it will share underpinnings with the sedan version. The four-door will debut with a revised 3.0-liter six-cylinder that will pack 473 horsepower. Just like the M4, the M3 will be available in Competition trim with a beefed-up engine that produces 503 horsepower.

BMW will finally have a competitor for hot wagons from Mercedes-Benz and Audi

Unlike BMW, Mercedes-Benz offers beefed-up versions of its C-Class Wagon. As of 2020, you can buy the AMG C 63 Wagon (T-Modell) with a twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8 rated at 469 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. The AMG C 63 S Wagon features an uprated version of the same V-8 that cranks out 503 horses and 516 pound-feet of twist. If BMW launched the M3 in Competition guise too, it will have a competitor for both. Likewise, the M3 Touring will go against the RS4 Avant, a beefed-up wagon that Audi has been offering for many years now. The latest RS4 Avant features a twin-turbo, 2.9-liter V-6 with 444 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque on tap.

When is the BMW M3 Touring coming to dealerships?

BMW says that the development process will take two years, so this means that the M3 Touring will be ready sometime in 2022. The wagon could break cover in the second quarter of the year and hit European dealerships toward the end of 2022.

FAQ

Q: Will the BMW M3 Touring come to the U.S.?

Sadly, it's very unlikely for the M3 Touring to cross the pond to the U.S. BMW discontinued the 3 Series Sports Wagon from North America years ago as people preferred the X1 and X3 for practicality instead. What's more, wagons are no longer popular in the U.S., and almost no automakers offer them as of 2020. Mercedes-Benz doesn't offer the C-Class wagon over here, while Audi only sells the Allroad crossover-like version of the A4 and not the RS4 Avant. Jaguar also doesn't offer the XE wagon here, while Volvo's V60 is only available in diesel and plug-in hybrid trim, with the latter generating below 400 horsepower. So there's no much reason for BMW to bring it to the States. What's more, with the regular 3 Series Wagon also not available on this side of the pond, BMW will have to certify it for import and perform safety tests for the M3 Touring. Given that it will sell in very small numbers, BMW might not want to go through all the trouble.