Previewed last week by none other than BMW, the G81 is right around the corner. The M3 Touring challenges the RS 4 Avant and C 63 T-Modell with a familiar powertrain and M3 Sedan-like design traits for the front fascia.
Rendered by SRK Designs in a beautiful shade of gray complemented by a gorgeous blue for the brake calipers and black-finished wheels, the M3 Touring in the following clip brings the point home with black mirror caps and glossy carbon for the roof. Similar to recently spied prototypes, the computer-generated image flaunts the sedan’s tall yet narrow front grilles.
Pictured on summer-only performance tires, the G81 is expected to come with M xDrive completely standard. The rear-biased system offers up to five configurations based on combinations of the drive and DSC settings. The most interesting of the lot is – of course – 2WD with dynamic stability control turned off. This configuration alone sets the M3 Touring apart from the upcoming C 63 T-Modell and the soon-to-be-redesigned RS 4 Avant.
Unfortunately for the most enthusiastic of drivers, a six-speed manual is unlikely to happen. The only transmission expected is the 8HP, an eight-speed box introduced by ZF Friedrichshafen by the 2009 model year 7er.
Still regarded as the best automatic in the world, the 8HP integrates four planetary gearsets, three clutches, and two brakes. The commonalities among 8HP variants make it easy to service, and the clever software helps this fellow to downshift and upshift as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Under the hood, you’ll find a longitudinally-mounted sixer with a couple of boosty lads for good measure. S58 is the codename of this 3.0-liter engine, which premiered some years ago in the X3 M and X4 M. The high-output variant, which bears the S58B30T0 codename, develops 503 horsepower (510 ps) at 6,250 rpm and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm) from 2,750 to 5,500 rpm.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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