BMW M3 CS Touring is building the ultimate family

For years, many have considered the Audi RS6 Avant the ultimate family car. Each generation of RS6 not only looks great, but also combines power with impressive versatility. Recently, the BMW M3 Touring has become one of the most popular grocery trucks on the market, and soon it will become even more special with the launch of a more powerful CS version.

BMW’s M division has been testing the M3 CS Touring for more than a year and has just started teasing the car online, suggesting its global launch is imminent. Several pictures and videos of prototype testing on the Nürburgring Nordschleife have been released, and its performance is even cooler than the RS6.

Read: BMW M3 CS Touring puts Waaaah in a station wagon

There’s no doubt that the current M3 Touring is an absolute beast, but the CS will be even more exciting. First, it should benefit from the same enhanced 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six engine as the M3 CS sedan. That means it makes 543 hp instead of 503 hp. Torque should remain unchanged from the current car’s 479 lb-ft (649 Nm), with power sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

These images reveal that the M3 CS Touring will have many of the same visual and aerodynamic upgrades as its sedan sibling. This means the front end includes a more pronounced splitter and a new bumper with sharp air intakes. The front grille is a little different too.

Several other upgrades are expected. For example, BMW M engineers will adjust the suspension geometry and install lightweight titanium exhaust pipes.

Despite the appeal the new M3 CS Touring promises, there’s a caveat: It won’t be sold in the United States. While it’s a sad shame, last summer, BMW Vice President of Product Management Andreas Meyer suggested that the next-generation M3 Touring might be sold in the United States. However, authorities in Munich will wait and see how local buyers respond to the M5 Touring before deciding whether to offer it stateside.