The top speed is also raised to 174mph, but perhaps more important is the inclusion of a voucher that entitles the owner to an intensive BMW M driving course. 

The BMW M3 has a history forged in motorsport, but when it was beating all comers in touring cars, an estate version wasn’t considered. Things have come full circle, because while the current M3 Touring wasn’t intended for racing, it didn’t stop BMW from building a competition version.

Called the M3 Touring 24H, the racing version uses the same running gear as the race-proven M4 GT3 Evo coupé, and as the name suggests, it’s designed for endurance racing. It finished fifth in the Nürburgring 24 Hours in May.

On the road

While the Audi RS 5 is fast and has plenty of grip, the PHEV powertrain puts you at a distance from the driving experience. You need a fully charged battery to make the most of it, too, otherwise it feels disjointed.

The M3 is far more engaging, with a rear-biased 4WD system, a more vocal powertrain and instant responses. The significant 500kg weight saving it has over the Audi boosts its dynamics, too.

Tech highlights

There are three dashboard screens in the RS 5, including a 10.9-inch display for the passenger that replicates most of the main screen’s functions. It also uses clever tech so that the driver can’t be distracted by it.