BMW M3 CS Touring Sets Nürburgring Record For Fastest Wagon

BMW has just raised the bar for fast wagons. Again. After the M2 CS claimed bragging rights as the quickest compact around the Nürburgring, the M division quietly returned to the Green Hell with another record-breaker—the BMW M3 CS Touring. And it didn’t disappoint.

With a blistering lap time of 7:29.490, it’s now the fastest estate car to ever lap the legendary track. That’s 5.5 seconds quicker than the regular M3 Touring, which had held the record since 2022. It's even breathing down the neck of the M3 CS sedan, missing its time by less than a second.

What’s even cooler? The person behind the wheel wasn’t a pro racer. It was BMW M development engineer Jörg Weidinger, who also happens to be a former hill climb champ. He was the first to break the 7:30 barrier in an estate.

The M3 CS Touring isn’t just a fast version of the M3 Touring. It’s been sharpened in just about every way. The twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six now makes 543 hp, with power sent to all four wheels through BMW’s rear-biased M xDrive system. You also get revised suspension, tougher brakes (with optional carbon ceramics), and enough aero tweaks to make a noticeable difference at triple-digit speeds.

This BMW M3 CS Touring rips from 0 to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds and tops out at 186 mph. However, it still works as a daily. Fold down the rear seats, and you’ve got up to 1,510 liters of cargo space. Track day today, flat-pack furniture tomorrow.

BMW M boss Franciscus van Meel said:

“This model impressively demonstrates that this vehicle concept perfectly combines racing DNA with everyday usability.”

If you want to see it in action, BMW released the full onboard lap video. Whether rivals like the upcoming Audi RS5 Avant can catch up is anyone’s guess. For now, the king of the fast wagons wears a BMW badge.