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BMW eventually launched the M3 Touring, and the G81 certainly lived up to expectations. It stands out as the Munich brand’s top all-rounder and impressively holds its own on the racetrack despite being a wagon. Its main rival, the Mercedes-AMG C63 Estate, has transitioned from a robust V8 to a complex four-cylinder plug-in hybrid, diminishing its legacy.
Motorsport Magazine’s French journalists took the swift AMG wagon to the Nevers Magny Cours Club track. The long-roof C63 completed a lap in 1 minute and 23.32 seconds. As anticipated, it was slower than Bavaria’s G81, which finished 1.38 seconds faster. It’s worth mentioning that the tested M Touring previously sported Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, favoured for dry tracks. Meanwhile, the AMG wore Pilot Sport 4S tyres.
When Motorsport Magazine tested the A45 S compact hot hatch on PS4S tyres, its lap time nearly matched the C63’s. However, the M3 CS outperformed both during a hot lap, clocking in at just one minute and twenty seconds on Cup 2 tyres. This made it 1.16 seconds faster than the M3 Touring. With BMW expected to launch a CS version of the speedy wagon in 2025, that gap will likely narrow.
For those unfamiliar, the Nevers Magny Cours Club Circuit spans 2.53 kilometres, featuring 15 turns and a 700-meter straight. The McLaren Senna, equipped with Trofeo R tyres, holds the record as the fastest vehicle tested by Motorsport Magazine on this track, with a lap time of 1 minute and 14.93 seconds.
It will be intriguing to see the performance of the upcoming M5 Touring. The G99 is expected to surpass the M3 Touring by approximately 200 horsepower. However, it’s likely to be heavier due to the M division’s inclusion of a complex plug-in hybrid V8, which will inevitably add significant weight.
