32 years on from the debut of the first ever BMW 3 Series Touring, the new edition of the five-door 3 Series brings a compelling and seamless blend of driving pleasure and functional appeal to the premium mid-size class. Since its launch in 1987, more than 1.7 million examples of the 3 Series Touring have hit the roads, with the new car's immediate predecessor alone accounting for more than 500,000 of these.

The 3 Series Touring has larger exterior dimensions than its predecessor. It has grown by 76mm to 4,709mm in length, by 16mm to 1,827mm in width and by 11mm to 1,440mm in height. The wheelbase has also been extended by 41mm to 2,851mm, plus 43mm added to the front track (1,587mm) and 21mm to the rear track (1,604mm).

The Touring matches the nose of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan, and is headlined by a large BMW kidney grille, slim twin head lights and a jutting front apron. The two elements of the BMW kidney grille are framed by a single surround and split up by wide bars.

The head light units extend all the way up to the grille and this familiar look is further emphasised by a notch in the front apron that rises up into the head light unit contour. Adaptive LED head lights with U-shaped daytime driving lights are standard.

Central to the fresh look alongside the long bonnet, short overhangs and long wheelbase is the extended roofline. Added to which, a character line climbing from the front side panel, along the doors and into the rear teams up with the rearwards descending roofline to create a more wedged profile.

The rear window is around 20mm wider than on the outgoing model and now extends beyond the water run-off strips on either side of the boot opening. All of the light functions use LEDs as standard.

Elsewhere, the tailpipes from the exhaust system (a dual-pipe system on all model variants) have a diameter of 80 or 90mm, depending on the engine fitted. The new BMW 3 Series Touring also comes as standard with a load sill cover in stainless steel.

The new 3 Series Touring will have latest-generation engines and new chassis technology to provide improvements in performance and handling, while intelligent equipment features optimise versatility both in everyday use and on trips away. It also includes the new BMW design language, a refined interior and innovations in control/operation and connectivity.