BMW's latest high-performance wagon, the M3 CS Touring, has officially claimed the title of the quickest estate vehicle to navigate the challenging Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit. This remarkable feat was achieved with a significant margin over its standard counterpart, showcasing the engineering enhancements that allow it to dominate the track while maintaining the practicality of a touring car. This new benchmark highlights the continuous push for automotive excellence and speed in diverse vehicle categories.
The record-breaking lap was completed in 7 minutes, 29.490 seconds, by BMW development driver Jörg Weidinger. This impressive time was set in April but only recently made public. It significantly outpaces the previous record held by the regular M3 Touring, which completed the circuit in 7 minutes, 35.060 seconds, marking an improvement of more than 5.5 seconds. The M3 CS Touring's performance also places it less than a second behind the M3 CS saloon and firmly ahead of several other high-performance vehicles, including the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and the last-generation Porsche Panamera Turbo.
The exceptional performance of the M3 CS Touring is attributed to its specialized CS-ification, which includes a power increase of 19 horsepower and a weight reduction of 15 kilograms compared to the standard M3 Touring. These modifications, combined with a bespoke chassis setup, ensure that the vehicle not only delivers raw power but also superior handling and agility crucial for setting records on demanding tracks like the Nürburgring.
This achievement comes amidst a season of new production car records at the Nürburgring, with various manufacturers pushing the boundaries of speed and performance. Other recent records include the BMW M2 CS as the fastest compact car, the Ford Mustang GTD as the fastest American car, and the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra as the fastest production electric vehicle. The M3 CS Touring's new record underscores BMW's commitment to pushing the limits of what a practical estate car can achieve on the world's most challenging race track.
The M3 CS Touring's new Nürburgring record not only solidifies its status as a top-tier performance wagon but also sets a new standard for other manufacturers. With its enhanced specifications and proven track capabilities, it redefines expectations for combining family-friendly utility with blistering speed and precision engineering.