BMW M’s next major work will be next year’s all-electric quad-motor M3, derived from the Neue Klasse i3. And we can’t imagine there’s a three-pedal version of that one in the works, sadly.
The M3 I really want
In BMW’s briefing materials for the M3 CS Handschalter, it notes that the 3.0 L S58 engine is also used, in modified form, in the BMW M4 GT3 Evo that won the Rolex 24 at Daytona this year. BMW has had a fair degree of success with the M4 GT3 Evo, as it also won last year’s Nurbürgring 24, among other races. But the only M race car with an S58 engine anyone cared about at this year’s N24 started life as an April Fool’s joke.
As 24-hour races go, the N24 is certainly unique. Le Mans and Daytona have faster prototypes among the GTs. Spa-Francorchamps is just GT3, but more than 70 of them on track together. But the N24 combines everything from GT3 cars down to Volkswagen Golfs, and does so across not just the modern F1-grade GP Circuit but also the entire stretch of the Nordschleife, with its narrow straights, crests, drops, and dozens of blind corners. Watching driver onboards are frankly terrifying, given the speed differentials.
The BMW M3 Touring at the N24.
Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images
Silas Stein/picture alliance via Getty Images
I do wonder if the car handled a bit differently thanks to a higher, farther-back center of gravity.
Silas Stein/picture alliance via Getty Images
Silas Stein/picture alliance via Getty Images
The M3 Touring looked amazing in its race livery.
Silas Stein/picture alliance via Getty Images
I do wonder if the car handled a bit differently thanks to a higher, farther-back center of gravity.
Silas Stein/picture alliance via Getty Images
The M3 Touring looked amazing in its race livery.
Silas Stein/picture alliance via Getty Images
This year’s race had a pair of stars. Max Verstappen took time off from his F1 job, got his Nürburgring race permit, and then showed that he could absolutely cut it with the world’s best sportscar drivers on the world’s most challenging racetrack. Even if you’re a Verstappen hater, it’s worth watching some of his onboard footage from the race just to see a master at work.
But Max wasn’t the only headline attraction, because he had to share plenty of attention with the BMW M3 Touring. Originally thought up as a joke last year, overwhelmingly positive feedback meant BMW had to make it a reality for 2026. The powertrain is identical to the M4 race car, but the M3 Touring bodywork is unique. And just look at it!
Although the M3 Touring only qualified 22nd overall, it moved forward quickly and spent much of the race in contention—if not for a win, then a podium.