Wagons are cool. There's just something about the extended roofline that works so well, and it isn't just about the practicality aspect of the increased cargo space and expanded cargo-loading aperture. And when you consider the popularity of wagons with car enthusiasts, it makes one wonder why it even took so long before BMW decided to come up with a Touring variant for the M3.

Since the original E30 M3 was launched in 1986, enthusiasts have been clamouring for a Touring variant, and the closest they have ever gotten to one was the E46 Touring Concept. You can only imagine how excited the performance wagon enthusiasts were when BMW finally decided to release the first-ever M3 Touring.

On the exterior, the main difference between the Touring and the M3 Sedan lies in its silhouette. Its extended roofline slightly tapers downwards to meet a muscular rear end flanked by bulging wheel arches, resulting in an achingly beautiful shape.

Equipped with the xDrive rear-biased all-wheel drive system, the M3 Touring sends a whopping 503bhp and 650Nm of torque to all four wheels, allowing to go like a bat out of hell - the century sprint is completed in just 3.6 seconds (it is actually faster than the sedan). With its incredibly engineered chassis, the M3 Touring is also blazingly quick around corners, and it manages to do so while feeling more comfortable and pliant.

To add on to it all, the Touring variant feels dynamically indistinguishable from its sedan counterpart despite the additional rear-end weight of the wagon bodystyle and the removal of the rear bulkhead.

The M3 Touring builds upon the fundamentally great performance sedan that the M3 is, adding even more practicality and daily usability, all while managing to exude an even stronger character. It might very well be the most well-rounded and all-encompassing M car that you can buy right now.