On May 24 in 1972, the agreement that created BMW Motorsport GmbH was signed. Over the past 50 years, on streets and tracks around the world - corner by corner, lap by lap - BMW M has built a passionate community of extraordinary fans. And today, as we celebrate BMW M's 50th birthday, it's those enthusiasts who will get the present. The company now known as BMW M GmbH is presenting a limited edition model exclusive to North America, the M3 Edition 50 Jahre BMW M.

Based on the 2023 BMW M3 Competition xDrive, the M3 Edition 50 Jahre BMW M will be offered in modern formulations of five iconic paint colors - one from each of the previous five generations of M3. The legendary E30 M3 is represented in vibrant, non-metallic Cinnabar Red. The E36 M3 is evoked by dazzling Techno Violet. Deep Interlagos Blue is taken from the palette of the storied E46 M3. Fire Orange III will be remembered from the limited Lime Rock Park Edition of the ferocious E92 M3. And Limerock Grey graced the rare and thrilling F80 M3 CS. Two of the colors, Techno Violet, and Interlagos Blue, were revived just for this Edition, and starting with July 2022 production will be available only on the M3 Edition 50 Jahre BMW M for model year 2023.

Regardless of paint color, each M3 Edition 50 Jahre BMW M will come equipped with forged Style 826M wheels in a sleek matte Orbit Grey finish unavailable on the standard M3. Behind those wheels, customers may choose the standard M Compound brakes and specify red, blue, or black calipers, or they can opt for M Carbon Ceramic brakes with their characteristic gold calipers. Motorsport-inspired exterior enhancements from the M Performance catalog are also part of the package. Up front, the 50 Jahre BMW M edition receives a carbon fiber front splitter. At the back, the signature M quad tailpipes are trimmed in carbon fiber and titanium, and the trunk lid sports a distinctive M Performance carbon fiber spoiler, all of which complement the standard carbon fiber roof.

Classic BMW Motorsport logos are fitted to the hood, trunk, and wheel center caps in place of the usual BMW roundels. With its staggered semicircles in blue, navy, and red, the anniversary emblem is reminiscent of the original BMW M GmbH trademark that was first used on racing cars in 1973.

Upon opening the doors, the driver and passenger are greeted by "Edition 50 Jahre BMW M" lettering on the door sill trims. The inscription is repeated on an aluminum plaque on the cupholder cover below the dashboard, accompanied by a reminder that this very special M3 is "1/500". Customers have the choice of the standard M Sport seats or the optional, track-ready M Carbon bucket seats, upholstered exclusively in Black Extended Merino leather. Both seat designs feature a unique seam pattern utilizing stitching in the M colors. They are complimented by tri-color M stripes on the headrests. The M stripes are also found on the folding headrests of the outboard rear seats.

Included with the vehicle is the 50 Jahre BMW M Boardcase. This 42L roll-aboard suitcase is constructed of durable and lightweight Makrolon Polycarbonate adorned with the 50 Jahre BMW M logo on the front.

The M3 Edition 50 Jahre BMW M will be available in only one, well-equipped configuration. This includes the Executive and Parking Assistance packages, Icon Adaptive LED headlights with Laserlight, carbon fiber interior trim, wireless device charging, and M Shadowline headlights. All customers have to do is choose their exterior color, brake caliper color, and style of seat. The M Carbon Ceramic Brakes and M Carbon bucket seats are the only extra-cost options.

Beginning with model year 2023, all BMW M3s will feature the BMW Curved Display and the 8th generation of BMW iDrive. A 12.3-inch information display behind the steering wheel and a 14.9-inch control display merge into a single, fully digital, high-resolution unit. The new BMW Operating System 8 offers many more options for drivers to enjoy easy, intuitive, multimodal control of vehicle, navigation, infotainment, and communication functions, as well as digital services.

The teaser campaign for the BMW M3 Touring is entering the homestretch and the company has released a video showing the model lapping the Nürburgring in 7:35.060.

That’s apparently a new record for a wagon and it suggests BMW has succeeded in their goal of creating the “fastest estate.” It’s also worth mentioning the M3 Touring posted better times than models such as the second-generation Acura / Honda NSX, BMW M5 Competition (F90), and Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera – just to name a few.

The M3 Touring will officially be unveiled on June 23, but the model has already been spied numerous times and outed by the patent office. It unsurprisingly follows in the footsteps of the M3 and features a distinctive front fascia with a ‘beaver teeth’ grille that is flanked by mesh intakes and vertical air curtains. The wagon also sports a bulging hood, aerodynamic mirror caps, and a four-tailpipe exhaust system.

Full details will be announced later this month, but the model is expected to be offered exclusively in Competition guise with all-wheel drive. As a result, we can expect a familiar twin-turbo 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine developing 503 hp (375 kW / 510 PS) and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm) of torque. This setup enables the M3 Competition xDrive sedan to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 3.4 seconds, before hitting a top speed of up to 180 mph (290 km/h).

Unfortunately, Americans won’t be able to enjoy the wagon as it will sadly remain forbidden fruit.

The BMW M3 model family is welcoming a Touring addition to the ranks for the first time, offering an intoxicating blend of exhilarating performance and practicality.

Offered exclusively in Competition guise with the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system, the BMW M3 Touring combines that race-car feeling with a distinctive character and immense versatility.

Power generated by the 510hp six-cylinder in-line engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology is channelled via the eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic and split between the four wheels as required. As a result, the BMW M3 Touring delivers blistering performance at all times both on the road and on the track. Agility and precision in the familiar BMW M tradition combine with unrestricted everyday practicality to give the BMW M3 Touring a distinctive identity showcased by its exterior design.

The BMW M3 Touring is priced from £80,550 RRP in the UK. The highly anticipated M model celebrated its global premiere at the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

M-specific BMW kidney grille, large air intakes, flared wheel arches and side skirts

Its M-specific front end ensures the Touring is immediately recognisable as a member of the M3 family. At its centre is the vertical black frameless BMW kidney grille dropping down towards the road, its horizontally arranged M-typical double bars carrying a "M3 Competition" badge. The large intakes positioned in the lower section of the front apron optimise the supply of air to the drive components and braking system. The apertures are each split into two sections and have honeycomb mesh covers.

When viewed from the side, the distinctive proportions of the Touring blend with its flared wheel arches, characteristic M gills and extended side skirts. Together with the attachment parts for the front and rear aprons, the sills form a Black high-gloss band around the car. This racing-inspired body element teams up with the front spoiler lip, aero flics for the air curtains and brace covers in the underbody area to enhance the car's aerodynamic balance. The exterior mirrors in M-specific design with a Black high-gloss finish also optimise airflow.

Full-LED headlights with U-shaped fibre-optic light guides for the daytime driving lights are standard for the BMW M3 Touring, as are BMW Individual lights Shadow Line with darkened inlays adorning their upper edges. The optional BMW Laserlight available as part of the Visibility package can be identified by the blue inlays inside the headlight units. It includes the cornering light and adaptive cornering functions with variable road illumination optimised for urban and motorway driving, plus the BMW Selective Beam non-dazzling High-beam Assistant. At speeds above 37mph, BMW Laserlight increases high-beam range to a maximum 550 metres and follows the course of the road dynamically.

The BMW M3 Touring is 85mm longer externally than the BMW 3-Series Touring at 4,794mm, 76mm wider (1,903mm) and 4mm lower (1,436mm). It also has particularly large light-alloy wheels - 19-inch at the front, 20-inch at the rear - in double-spoke design as standard in Jet Black or optionally in bi-colour diamond polished finish. M forged wheels with a double-spoke design can also be specified as an option in either bi-colour Jet Black or Orbit Grey matt. Special track tyres are also available as an option.

M Carbon exterior package accentuates motorsport character

The optional M Carbon exterior package enhances the race-inspired nature of the BMW M3 Touring. The selection of high-quality, weight-minimised components comprises inlays for the front air intakes and a rear diffuser with their own individual geometry, plus exterior mirror caps in carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP).

A rear compartment with exceptional practicality

Among the elements that set the BMW M3 Competition Touring apart are its versatility and space. It has three full-size rear seats with the backrest able to be split 40:20:40, depending on how many passengers and how much cargo needs to be carried. In this way, the load capacity of the BMW M3 Touring can grow from 500 litres to 1,510 litres.

Standard specification also includes automatic tailgate operation as well as a rear window that opens separately as on BMW Touring models. Options include rubberised anti-slip rails that rise up from the boot floor after the tailgate has been closed, preventing items of luggage sliding around when cornering and buttons to automatically fold the rear seats from the boot. Both features are also available as part of the optional Comfort pack.

M-specific interior features

The cockpit design combines with M-specific design features including red colour accents for the M buttons on the M leather steering wheel and the Start/Stop button on the centre console. The gear selector lever with Drivelogic switch has a leather surface with embedded M logo and stitching in BMW M GmbH colours. It also features an eye-catching cut-out with integrated cascade lighting. An anthracite-coloured BMW M headliner and interior trim strips in Carbon Fibre high-gloss are standard.

The Merino leather-trimmed M Sport seats fitted as standard in the front of the BMW M3 Touring include multi-way electric adjustment with a memory function, and are also heated. M seat belts with a woven stripe pattern in BMW M GmbH colours are also included.

Racing flair meets long-distance comfort: M Carbon bucket seats

The optional M Carbon bucket seats fuse racing flair, lightweight design, and long-distance comfort to unique effect. Also fully electric and heated, they feature integral head restraints and an illuminated model badge. The use of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) in the structural elements of the seat cushion and backrest together with the cut-outs in the side bolsters and below the head restraints saves 9.6kg over the standard M Sport seats.

New cockpit design with BMW Curved Display

The BMW Curved Display is made up of a 12.3-inch information display behind the steering wheel and a control display of 14.9 inches, which merge into a single fully digital and high-resolution unit behind a frameless glass surface angled towards the driver. A number of special widgets are also available in the BMW M3 Touring containing information on the current vehicle setup, as well as tyre pressure and temperature. The BMW Curved Display enables the number of buttons and controls to be significantly reduced, with the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant and BMW Operating System 8 permitting intuitive operation using voice control and the touchscreen.

The cloud-based BMW Maps navigation system forms part of the standard BMW Live Cockpit Professional, which also adds the BMW Head-Up Display with M specific readouts. Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ come as standard as does wireless charging. The BMW ConnectedDrive Upgrades functionality allows new and improved vehicle functions to be imported into the BMW M3 Touring over the air.