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2013 BMW 3-Series TouringM.MOESCH

The station wagon BMW 3-Series is coming, but not until next spring and only with xDrive all-wheel-drive and a load of other features. No stripped down 3-Series BMW Touring for us Canadians, and no diesels, either.

Instead, the only engine for Canada is BMW's near-ubiquitous four-cylinder, two-stage turbocharged engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. This powerplant is rated at 240 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The torque is all there at just 1,250 rpm, too. So your 0-100 km/h time is 6.0 seconds and combined fuel economy is 6.8 litres/100 km.

The inevitable question and always the last one to be answered is, how much?

Well, if the euro plunges and the euro zone implodes, then it could be $75,000 or $100,000 or more. That's what an economic calamity can do. If not, then a more reasonable price will be announced next spring.

The benefits of a 3-Series wagon are obvious. There is more passenger space, especially in the back seat, and the cargo area this time around is almost 10 per cent greater than the last wagon of this sort.

To secure your goods back there, four tie-downs are integrated into the cargo floor and my preview test ride had a net along the left-hand panel, along with a pair of coat hooks and a 12-volt outlet.

I found a storage tray under the load compartment floor, snap-in partitions to compartmentalize your cargo and a folding rear seat bench that splits 40/20/40.

Wagons such as this are so sensible and Europeans love them and buy them in great numbers. Americans don't, which means we in Canada get only a very limited selection of "touring" cars.

Such a pity.

jcato@globeandmail.com

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