The M3 Touring will live on in BMW's Neue Klasse era, in part thanks to unexpectedly high demand in markets such as the US and China.

While the M3 saloon is now in its sixth generation, the performance model has only been offered in estate form since the arrival of the G80-generation version in 2021. But strong sales since then have prompted BMW to bring the super-estate back with the next-generation M3, as previewed recently with the Vision M Neue Klasse concept.

The current model is powered by a 523bhp twin-turbo 3.0-litre straight six, and a variant of that engine is set to be offered in the next-gen car, alongside a quad-motor pure-electric version.

BMW has already previewed a new electric 3 Series Touring and, unlike rival Mercedes-Benz, it has pledged to offer EV and ICE versions of the standard car in estate form - and BMW M sales boss Sylvia Neubauer said the performance version will remain.

"The M3 Touring is one of the best models that we have in our portfolio," Neubauer told Autocar.

"Normally China is not an estate market at all, but we decided to bring the Touring to China only in the M3 version. So you can't buy a regular 3 Series Touring there but the M3 Touring is a lifestyle statement. And it's been a huge success in China, and the rest of the world."

Neubauer noted that the M3 Touring has also been a hit in the US, another market where they don't offer the standard estate because "it's a market for SUVs and very big cars".

She added that demand for the model was largely organic. "Our dealers are so happy to have this car, because they don't have to push it," she said.

"There's demand, and they're asking for more and more production, so we've been increasing the volume."