The BMW M3 is getting a brand-new model, though you’ll have to be patient to get your hands on it.
The automaker recently unveiled the M3 CS Touring, which will touch down in South Africa one year from now in the first quarter of 2026.
What’s in store
The CS is a special-edition version of the Touring, which is BMW’s terminology for its estate models.
The Touring is actually a recent addition to BMW South Africa’s catalogue, as the fan-favourite performance car was previously limited to the familiar sedan body style in our market.
As you’d expect, the CS takes the existing car and improves upon it with various tweaks to the design, adding new cosmetics and features while enhancing its sporty attributes.
First up is the engine – a 3.0-litre, six-cylinder block with two mono-scroll turbochargers – which has been uprated to produce an additional 15kW.
This give the M3 CS Touring a new total of 405kW and 650Nm, letting it sprint to 100km/h in a lightning-quick 3.5 seconds, while 0-200km/h takes just 11.4 seconds.
The CS also comes standard with the M Driver’s package, which raises the electronically capped top speed from 250km/h to 300km/h.
All of this power is transmitted to the tarmac via the eight-speed M Steptronic gearbox, which is fitted with a “Drivelogic” function.
The Drivelogic button is integrated into the gear selector lever and makes it possible to alter the transmission’s shift characteristics, with three settings for Comfort, Sport, and Track.
Owners can also make use of carbon-fibre paddle shifters on the wheel for sequential shifts.
Other track features include an Active M differential over the rear axle, and the xDrive all-wheel-drive system which is biased towards the back wheels to promote a classic rear-wheel-driving sensation.
The model-specific chassis has been tuned to match the engine with a more lightweight design, using carbon fibre-reinforced plastics wherever possible.
Likewise, the bonnet, front splitter, air intakes, mirror caps, and rear diffuser are all made from the same material.
The BMW sits atop forged M light-alloy wheels with track tyres, which measure 19 inches at the front and 20 inches at the back.
It is also fitted with M Compound brakes with red or black calipers, though these can be upgraded to M Carbon Ceramic brakes for an extra cost.
Inside the cabin, the weight-saving measures continue with a set of heated, electronically adjustable M Carbon bucket seats complemented by carbon fibre trim elements – all of which help to save about 15kg.
The upholstery is made from Merino leather, and red CS badges can be found throughout the interior.
There’s an M Alcantara three-spoke, flat-bottom steering wheel with a red 12 o’ clock marker, and a set of M buttons on the centre console for custom engine, chassis, steering, brake, and xDrive settings.
The sports car also features an M Drive Professional system with an M Drift Analyzer and an M lap timer, which is conveyed through the 12.3-inch digital driver monitor and a heads-up display.
Complementing these displays is a 14.9-inch curved infotainment cluster running on the brand’s latest operating system 8.5 with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.
Other fittings include a wireless charger, cloud-based navigation, dual-zone climate control, a Harman Kardon stereo, and driver aids like lane-departure warning, a speed limiter, and a parking assistant.
Since it’s an estate, the performance car also boasts a substantial boot clocking in between 500 and 1,500 litres, depending on whether the rear seats are folded.
In terms of styling, there are four colours to choose from – British Racing Green, Laguna Seca Blue, Frozen Solid White, or Sapphire Black metallic – and the roof and spoiler are finished in high-gloss black.
At the front is the signature M kidney grille, complete with black model lettering and red contour lines, and the CS benefits from the yellow-tinted LED headlights seen on a few other BMW M models.
More information on the new BMW M3 CS Touring, including its South African pricing, will be revealed closer to its launch window in early 2026.
BMW M3 CS Touring
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