Article Abstract
- BMW M boss Frank van Meel sees rising demand for efficiency wagons Down Below.
- After many years of favoring SUVs and sedans, Australians are warming as much as Touring fashions.
- Greater than a 3rd of the M3s and M5s bought in Australia final 12 months have been wagons.
BMW’s “Energy of Alternative” slogan would possibly confer with powertrain variety, however it may well simply as simply apply to physique types. Munich sells all the things from a compact hatchback to a full-size SUV, with out neglecting its core sedan and SUV fashions. The 8 Collection Convertible and Z4 are dying, however the 4 Collection Convertible will carry the torch within the open-top section.
Whereas wagons have traditionally been Euro-centric merchandise, BMW’s M division is seeing rising curiosity in Tourings elsewhere. It has already gone on file saying it’s stunned by the M5 Touring’s reputation in america. That has made us wonder if skipping the M3 Touring was a missed alternative.
Australia is privileged to get each the G81 and the G99, and these M-flavored property fashions are gaining traction domestically. M boss Frank van Meel advised Australian media he’s “slightly bit stunned” by how effectively the M3 and M5 Tourings are performing Down Below. Talking with Drive journal and different retailers, the top of BMW M pointed to a shift in buyer preferences and defined why the corporate hadn’t anticipated long-roof M automobiles to carry out as they’ve:
“As a result of over the previous many years, each time we requested, ‘would you like a Touring mannequin?’, the reply was all the time ‘no, we don’t need that in our market. We’re an SUV market, or we’re a sedan market.’”
Trying on the numbers, BMW Australia bought 270 M3 Touring items in 2025, whereas 53 prospects opted for its bigger sibling. In each circumstances, the wagon’s share of complete demand exceeded a 3rd. The smaller mannequin accounted for 38%, whereas the electrified wagon reached 35%. Except we’re studying an excessive amount of into it, Frank van Meel could have hinted that the lineup may increase past these two fashions:
“The Touring demand is now rising, and we’re actually proud of that. We’ll see the place that leads us sooner or later as effectively.”
If a 3rd M-branded wagon is on the best way, there’s actually just one believable candidate as the bottom mannequin: the i3 Touring (“NA1”). BMW has already teased the usual electrical wagon forward of a doable 2027 market launch. We’ve been reporting on the sporty model’s “ZA1” codename for practically three years, however we’re nonetheless ready for official affirmation. If accredited, it may arrive in late 2028, roughly a 12 months after the electrical M3 Sedan (“ZA0”).
Within the meantime, BMW is making ready a mid-cycle facelift for the M5 Touring, scheduled for launch in 2027. Sadly, the M3 Touring is reportedly lower than a 12 months away from retirement, with manufacturing anticipated to finish subsequent February. On a extra optimistic notice, BMW M has confirmed a brand new M3 Sedan (“G84”) with an inline-six engine. Nevertheless, it has but to decide to the extra sensible physique type. In actual fact, it’s nonetheless unclear whether or not there’ll even be a 3 Collection Touring (“G51”) with combustion engines.
Hopefully, the surge in demand for wagons will persuade decision-makers to increase the Touring lineup. Ideally, a broader availability wouldn’t harm both. On that notice, BMW is already open to bringing the i3 Touring to america. We imagine a 5 Collection Touring slotting under the M5 could be a sensible choice as effectively.
Supply: Drive
