Can the BMW M3 Touring out-muscle the indomitable AudiUK RS6? JethroBovingdon finds out -
, which not only sounds delightfully thunderous but has the rare ability to always have something in reserve. Even when you think you’re really travelling there’s another few millimetres of throttle travel to explore. Crack it open still further and even greater performance floods in. Unstoppable and, seemingly, bottomless. The 8-speed ‘box doesn’t quite punch in shifts but such is the torque and the scale of the delivery that not having that physical ‘sporty’ signifier isn’t an issue.
Oddly, it does feel slightly old fashioned. In some ways that is A Very Good Thing. The RS6 has buttons to control things like the heater. Alle-f*cking-luia. How has the entire industry shifted to a solution that is less efficient and more dangerous? Anyway, that’s an issue for another time. But there are other areas that date the RS6. Chiefly, the driving position.
This particular car is fitted with the standard air suspension. As such the ride is quiet and mostly very good - although like all cars with air springs the RS6 can skitter over smaller ripples and lumps – but there is a penalty in terms of agility, body control and just a sense of focus compared to a car specified with the optional Dynamic Ride Control system, which uses coil springs and interlinked dampers to resist roll, pitch and dive.
The M3 Competition is no flyweight. BMW claim a DIN kerbweight of 1865kg and on our scale with a full tank of fuel this car – sporting carbon ceramic brakes and the lighter bucket seats - registers 1858kg. By comparison the RS6 comes in at 2188kg. A yawning 330kg difference. To be honest it feels like more. Much more. Immediately, the BMW makes it clear that it has a very different take on the ultimate fast estate car formula.
There is a huge amount of adjustability built-in to the M3 but even if you simply hop in, start up the vocal straight-six and pootle away with the dampers in their softest setting and the drivetrain set to ‘Efficient’ it quickly becomes apparent this experience is going to be a treat. There’s a lovely sense of precision to everything the BMW does and although it is clearly a smaller and slightly more raucous car than the Audi, the quality of the dynamics shines through.
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