BMW M3 Touring

THE NEW BMW M3 Touring is the high-performance version of the 3 Series executive car that will appeal to dog owners.

- Steve Huntingford

However, they should resist the temptation to use maximum acceleration when travelling with their c friend, because the resulting g-force is likely to leave the poor pooch stuck to the inside of the rear window, doing a great impression of a suction toy.

You see, this is the first time in the 37 year history of the M3 that it's been offered as an estate. But while that means it's the most practical car ever to wear the badge, the M3 Touring uses the same 503bhp twinturbocharged 3.0-litre engine as the saloon, and it comes with traction-enhancing four wheel drive as standard to help you make the most of all that power.

The result is 0-62mph in 3.6sec, which is just 0.1 sec off the time of the equivalent saloon and half a second quicker than the rival Audi RS4 Avant can manage. It even trumps the 3.9sec time of the Alpina B3 Touring, which is itself based on the 3 Series. Meanwhile, the M3's top speed is limited to 155mph (unless you specify the M Driver's Package, which raises it to 174mph).

Impressive as those numbers are, they don't  fully do justice to the engine. Abundant torque means it pulls hard from low revs, yet it piles on speed even faster at the top end, so it's very much worth revving out.

Performance is further aided by snappy gearshifts, despite the M3 using a conventional eight-speed automatic 'box rather than a more exotic dual-clutch set-up. Instead, it's the noise the engine makes under acceleration that's a little disappointing; it's loud and bassy, but rather one-dimensional.

Fortunately, that's not a criticism you can level at the way the M3 Touring drives. Despite it being heavier than the saloon, you don't really notice this, because the car feels beautifully balanced front to rear and body lean is kept well in check through corners, even when you've selected the most relaxed, Comfort driving mode.