Putting aside all references to National Lampoon’s Vacation and Balkan dark humor, let’s introduce our contestants in the wagon or estate category.
First up, we have the powerful BMW M3 Touring, which comes in a matte purple color. Behind the wheel is Mat Watson from the popular “carwow” YouTube channel. The M3 Touring boasts the renowned 3.0-liter twin-turbo straight-six engine, delivering an impressive 503 horsepower (or 510 ps) and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm) of torque.
This all-wheel drive vehicle is equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission system and weighs 4,111 lbs. (or 1,865 kg). Now, here’s the kicker – this model comes with a price tag of nearly 88,000 GBP (British pounds), which is equivalent to around $111,000.
While it is unlikely that the M3 Touring will make its way to the US market, the 2025 BMW M5 Touring has been confirmed for release in the United States by Domagoj Dukec, the company’s Head of Design. The M5 Touring will be accompanied by the M5 sedan, with the sedan hitting the market first. If you’ve spotted the Touring test model cruising the streets of California, now you know the reason behind it.
Both the M5 Touring and M5 sedan will feature the powertrain from the XM. Production of the 2025 BMW M5 is set to begin in July, which means customers can expect to get their hands on this new ride sometime in the fall or autumn, depending on your preference.
Shifting our focus back to our side of the road, let’s say hello to the Mercedes-AMG E 63 S Wagon. This vehicle, with its hearse-like appearance, is equipped with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that churns out an impressive 603 horsepower (or 612 ps) and 627 lb-ft (850 Nm) of torque. According to the specifications, it can reach 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds.
Similar to the BMW, the Mercedes-AMG E 63 S Wagon is also all-wheel drive, has a 9-speed automatic transmission system, and weighs 4,277 lbs. (or 1,940 kg). The price for this wagon is approximately $102,076, but there’s a catch. This particular model is from 2019, while a 2023 model will cost you upwards of $121,100.
Now, let’s finally see how these two contenders performed against each other. In the first attempt, the BMW outperformed the AMG. The drivers of the Mercedes claimed that a delay was to blame, but is that really the case?
Interestingly, the E63 wagon also lost in the second race. However, they decided to have a third and fourth race, and this time, the tables turned in favor of the Mercedes. It turns out that the mechanical delay was indeed true, and as a result, Mat Watson awarded the 2019 Mercedes-AMG E 63 S Wagon with the Prize of the Day.
The AMG completed the 1/4-mile race in 11.4 seconds, while the BMW M3 Touring finished in 11.6 seconds. They also had a few 1/2-mile roll races, with the Mercedes emerging victorious in each one. In fact, the only event that the BMW won was the brake test. This makes the Mercedes the undisputed king of the tarmac.
According to the Source autoevolution.com