It’s an estate.
After the saloon’s big unveiling, BMW finally confirmed the Touring variant exists, and Autocar’s spy cams just caught the prototype rolling around for the first time. The rear end is plastered with camo, thick black tape hiding the details. You can still see it’s longer than the sedan version, roof sloping back with purpose.
Silhouette? Check.
Back at the launch, BMW boss Oliver Zipse tried to sell it on utility. Families need space, he said, and so do businesses. The Touring has always played well with both crowds.
“Business customers and families will beparticularly delighted: the Touring has always be a favourite with them,”
Makes sense, sort of. The current gas-powered 3 Series packs 480 liters in sedan form and bumps up to 500 liters when stretched. BMW hasn’t published numbers for this new EV, but obviously it will carry more than the four-door model. Substantially more.
No split tailgate, though. That odd design trick, where only the rear window opens for quick access? It’s gone. Previous 3 Series Estates used it; this one does not. Simpler is probably better for manufacturing. Or just lazy. Who knows.
The i3 and the iX3 SUV lead the Neue Klasse charge. This isn’t a rebranding exercise; it is a complete rethink. BMW is rebuilding how it builds cars from the ground up for the electric era, looking back to the 60s era cars that first made them famous. A full circle moment, hopefully with better aerodynamics.
Speaking of wind resistance. The sedan promises an official 567-mile range. That’s massive for the UK market. But stick an estate box on the back? Physics applies. Aerodynamics will suffer slightly. Expect the number to dip a bit.
It’ll also cost you. The salon starts at £53,055, so the Touring will likely sit higher up that price ladder. More car, more charge.
Or maybe less range and more boot space. It’s a tradeoff we’ll see when the final specs drop.
