BMW Teases Next 3 Series Touring
Yes, a long-roof version of the next 3 Series is coming, but what will power it—and whether it will arrive in North America—is unknown.
Wagon fans, rejoice. At this week's BMW i3 reveal, company CEO Oliver Zipse teased another iteration of the model, confirming the 3 Series Touring will be a part of the model's eighth generation. Huzzah!
A short teaser played at the event, with light gliding across the Touring's unmistakable long-roof silhouette. From this alone, we can see the i3-like lighting at both ends, roof rails, and a kicked-up shoulder line that isn't present on the electric sedan. Interesting.
What we don't know is what will power the 3 Series Touring. Currently, all BMW has confirmed for the next-gen 3er is the i3, the second Neue Klasse model, and carrying the NA0 platform designation. While it feels safe to assume at least part of that powertrain lineup will transfer over—it was at the i3 reveal, after all—it's also wouldn't be terribly surprising for BMW to continue to offer ICE-powered models. After all, we already saw a handful of 3 Series model designations leak earlier this month, including an M350i xDrive.
The other unknown is North American availability. Sure, brands are warming up to the idea of selling wagons on this side of the Atlantic, but they tend to fall into two categories: rugged or high-performance. BMW itself is seeing huge sales for the M5 Touring varient, which currently accounts for at least half of the 717-horsepower M5's sales.
AutoGuide's Take
BMW is no stranger to multiple body styles on one platform, and a Touring seemed a no-brainer for the next generation of the brand's core model. While there's still no word on two-door (4 Series) models, this is a natural progression. With the X4 discontinued and America rediscovering its love for long-roofs, we think it'd be a smart play for the brand to bring the next-generation 3 Series Touring to our markets, and with as many powertrain choices as possible, too.
Is it too early to start the M3 Touring petition?
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Kyle began his automotive obsession before he even started school, courtesy of a remote control Porsche and various LEGO sets. He later studied advertising and graphic design at Humber College, which led him to writing about cars (both real and digital). He is now a proud member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), where he was the Journalist of the Year runner-up for 2021.
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