BMW M3 Touring Teased as an Even More Hardcore High-Powered Wagon
BMW is preparing to reveal a more hardcore version of the M3 Touring wagon, which isn't sold in the U.S.
The CS Touring will likely get the same bump to 543 horsepower as the sedan, along with a weight reduction from the use of carbon fiber.
Like the standard M3 Touring, the CS model presumably won't make it stateside.
First came the 2023 BMW M4 CSL, a lightweight track version of the German automaker's sports coupe. It was followed by the M4 CS, a slightly toned-back take on the same theme. Then came the M3 CS, a sharper and more potent variant of the iconic sports sedan. Now, BMW is cooking up yet another car to wear the CS badge—which stands for Competition Sport—but this time it's a station wagon. Unfortunately, just like the standard M3 Touring, the M3 CS Touring also won't be offered in the United States.
BMW teased the performance-focused wagon on Instagram in a pair of videos. While the videos show a camouflaged prototype and provide only a glimpse at the uncovered car, BMW flashes the CS logo and shows the signature red line wrapping around the snout-like grille. There also appears to be plenty of carbon trim, and we have a feeling the same characteristic black hood panels found on the M3 CS sedan will also make an appearance.
Little else is known about the M3 CS Touring, but it will most likely match the 543-hp output of the M3 CS sedan, which represents a 20-hp advantage over the standard M3 Competition models. It's possible, however, that BMW has tuned the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six even further.
We expect other upgrades to mirror the M3 CS sedan, such as a revised cooling system, stiffer engine mounts, and a notable weight reduction thanks to the extensive use of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic. Inside, the M3 CS Touring will probably feature hardcore carbon-fiber-backed front seats with heated cushions and power adjustments. The sedan was priced at $119,695 when it was on sale for the 2024 model year in the U.S., but we won't have to worry about what the Touring model will cost since it will probably never reach our shores. The M3 CS Touring is expected to be fully revealed soon. When it does, we'll be longing for it across the pond.
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The Drive
7 hours ago
- The Drive
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Review: A Racing Sim You Can Drive on the Road
The latest car news, reviews, and features. It's easy to go gaga over the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N on a short backroad blast or rip around a track. It's mind-blowingly fast and, more impressively, a genuinely unique driving experience. Though I have to admit, I never completely got over the inherent goofiness of fake manual shifting and the video-game interface. I understand why people love this car, but I wasn't sad when my weeklong test came to a close. A curb weight of 4,861 pounds is a lot—but so is an output of 601 horsepower, which can spike to 641 hp with the 10-second N Grin Boost button. The torque figure of 545 lb-ft also increases to 568 when that button is pushed. Hyundai says the Ioniq 5 N can do a zero-to-60-mph run in 3.25 seconds at maximum attack, but MotorTrend recorded an even more dizzying 2.8-second pull and ran the quarter-mile in 11 seconds flat. In a mass-produced car that can also carry four people and a dog comfortably? That's crazy talk—but it's real. Andrew P. Collins The 5 N's specs, grip, responsiveness, and real-time customizability have been discussed ad nauseam on podcasts, in reviews, and here on The Drive . It looks great and loads a lot of cargo because, as you've also probably read, while it may have the shape of an '80s rally car, it's got the footprint of a crossover. Four adults can easily fit, plus luggage. The $70,000 list price is justified, too. A BMW X3 M50 is about the same money, and while that may feel fancier, the Hyundai is far, far quicker. At least, until it runs out of juice, which does happen annoyingly soon. Hyundai's official max range estimate for this car is 221 miles; expect a bit less if you drive as hard as the car invites you to. Former The Drive staff writer Chris Rosales (now at Motor1 ) called out the weak driving range as the 5 N's 'one major flaw,' and yeah, it does make a long day of adventuring less free-wheeling. 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San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
‘Every car has a tale to tell' at Bay Area's world-famous showcase of vintage vehicles
Mark Zagorski surveyed the fleet of classic cars on Lorton Avenue in Burlingame on Saturday morning before his gaze fell on his 1976 BMW 2002 sitting among them. He was a little nervous, he admitted, wondering what spectators would think. He has spent more than 10 years working on this car, a jalopy fading into decrepitude when he found it rusting away on a repair shop lot in Merced back in 2013. The car was one of dozens being featured this weekend at the 69th annual Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance, the region's longest-running vintage car show and the world's oldest continually running classic car parade and contest. 'Every car has a tale to tell,' said Glen Egan, the world-famous car contest's chairman. 'That's a big part of what I love.' The event began with a kickoff party Friday, followed by a meet-and-greet with car owners Saturday, followed by a two-hour road rally through Bay Area back roads, and then a group lunch. 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Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
Woman Planning Wedding—Then Car Crash Erases Her Memory in an Instant
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Just hours after slipping into her wedding gown for a final fitting, Kristen, 34, was behind the wheel on a dark winter highway. A spinning car collided with hers, setting in motion a series of events that would erase her memory of one of the most important days of her life. "I remember thinking we missed the car and that everything is fine," Kristen, from Vancouver, Canada, told Newsweek. "But I looked over and the whole right side of my car was busted up and mangled." The crash left her with a traumatic brain injury that was not fully recognized until weeks later, despite clear signs of memory loss and disorientation. Kristen has since been diagnosed with a concussion, stroke, and brain atrophy—and she has no memory of her wedding day that followed the crash. A video posted to Instagram in April by Kristen and her husband Troy (@tandkaythespectrumway) showed her standing in her wedding dress at the fitting, smiling. An overlaid text on the video read: "She doesn't know it yet but after her final wedding dress fitting, a car will spin out on the highway, erasing her wedding day memories in an instant." The clip has since sparked widespread conversation and support among viewers. The couple frequently share content about their experiences as a late-diagnosed couple with ADHD and autism. Their online presence began during the COVID-19 pandemic and has grown into a platform focused on autism awareness, particularly within relationships. "There just wasn't really a lot out there that talked about that specific dynamic," Troy told Newsweek. Kristen recalled how watching the reality show Love on the Spectrum led to her own diagnosis. "I could totally relate to these people," she said. "And then that's kind of what started the journey of hyperfixating and discovering myself." After moving in together, she was officially diagnosed, and the couple began using their platform to help others understand what it means to be autistic in a neurodiverse partnership. Navigating the Recovery With Autism Following the crash, Kristen's symptoms were immediate, but the medical response was not. "The emergency doctor saw me and didn't take it seriously," she said. "They asked if I hit my head, and I said I didn't remember. "So they didn't check my brain," she added. Kristen was sent home after cursory checks for her neck and stomach. The next day, she went to her bachelorette party—unaware that she was concussed. From left: Troy and Kristen embrace on their wedding day; and Kristen holding her wedding bouquet of flowers. From left: Troy and Kristen embrace on their wedding day; and Kristen holding her wedding bouquet of flowers. @tandkaythespectrumway The wedding and honeymoon went ahead as scheduled, largely due to the cost—a $50,000 investment—and lack of cancellation insurance. "The morning of, there was literally no one setting up the wedding," Kristen said. "I didn't remember to get that going." Her bridal party handled the setup without her, and she got ready alone. "Everything's kind of a blur," Kristen said. "I just knew I was marrying my man that day, and that was it." Kristen's memory of the event remains fragmented. "Our videographer gave us the entire raw footage," she said. "It was the first time seeing it. "I don't remember my wedding, and that's why I post videos—just so I can try to look back on it," Kristen said. The footage, and the outpouring of support it received online, has become an important part of her recovery. "I was unmasked, but it wasn't by choice," Kristen said of how her autism and injury affected her demeanor. "I've never been more myself." The couple credits their unfiltered portrayal for being able to connect with others, especially parents of autistic children. Kristen said she shares videos of her childhood to help parents understand their own kids, and that parents of autistic children that struggle to socialize may find reassurance in seeing her within a loving and fulfilling relationship. "It really helps parents see that it's not that we're disabled, it's that we're different," Kristen said. Despite the love and support online, her road to recovery has been slow and complicated by insurance hurdles. Under British Columbia's no-fault system, Kristen said, pain and suffering are not compensated. "They pay for your treatment, but anything abnormal from standard—like a neuro—they won't cover," she said. "There has to be a point where the patient is believed." Recently, a CT scan revealed Kristen had suffered a stroke, likely as a result of her injury. "I've been gaslit by my medical team for almost a year-and-a-half," she said. She also reported ongoing physical symptoms, including weakness on her left side and persistent speech difficulties. Despite her ongoing symptoms, Kristen's concerns were often minimized or attributed to anxiety. She said this dismissal by medical professionals may be tied to her autism diagnosis. "People think that we feel things more sensitively, so it's taking longer to recover," Kristen said. "They keep trying to prove something else is going on." The couple is also navigating the emotional toll of Kristen's recovery, alongside the medical hurdles. For one, the former business owner can no longer sing—her lifelong passion—due to throat blockages from the accident. Despite this, Kristen continues creating social-media videos as a form of therapy and advocacy. Troy, reflecting on the relationship, said Kristen's acceptance of her autism diagnosis and how she has coped since the car accident have pushed him to be more emotionally open with his own feelings. "You've really challenged me to be more honest and authentic," Troy said. Though the trauma has upended the beginning of their married lives, the couple continues to lean on each other—and their audience—for strength. "Authenticity creates authenticity," Kristen said. "When I'm authentic, it gives permission for other people to feel safe being themselves as well." Is there a health issue that's worrying you? Let us know via health@ We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
