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BMW M is really working hard to make this handle far better than you’d expect for a family car.

It’s just as painful for us to report on a car that America won’t be getting as it is for you to read about it, but the BMW M3 Touring is just too special to ignore. With BMW M providing an in-depth look at its journey from the concept phase to production and beyond, we are truly enthralled. Most recently, BMW M’s engineers showed us all the unique touches that the first-ever production BMW M3 wagon is getting to handle the power from its S58 3.0-liter turbocharged motor, and now it’s time to see if all those hardware upgrades have been effective. So strap in, and let’s take a lap of the Nurburgring with BMW M test driver Frank Weishar.

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This phase is the final part of testing as BMW prepares for production, and the engineers and drivers are now confirming that the suspension behaves well at high speed, whether over bumps, through camber or elevation changes, and even when landing during small jumps. To begin with, Weishar first tests the car with all stability systems deactivated and the active suspension system turned off, to get a good baseline feel for what the car wants to do when the road changes. Reassuringly, understeer appears to have been all but eliminated except in very extreme circumstances, which is normal as it tells you the car is approaching the limit.

Weishar notes that there is still a little work to do to make the car a touch stiffer and reduce body roll, but on the whole, the impressions are good. The car remains balanced and stable and accelerating early appears to be very easy. Remarkably, we hear very little tire squeal, but then again, when recording a video such as this, we’re sure Weishar isn’t pushing the limit of his or the car’s abilities. Soon, final adjustments will be made to the rebound and damper settings, and then the car will be ready for production. Clearly, this will be a true M3 and not just a marketing exercise. Production will begin imminently, but that’s the subject of the next video. Hopefully, that will coincide with the reveal of the car.

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