The global popularity of crossovers means BMW M won't be bothering with an M3 or M5 Touring.

BMW M will leave Audi and Mercedes-Benz to fight it out in the fast wagon market, focusing on SUVs to cater for practically-minded buyers.

Speaking with CAR in the UK, BMW M boss, Markus Flasch, said there's not enough demand for wagons – or estates, in European parlance – to justify developing cars like an M3 or M5 Touring.

"Touring estates are not part of our M plan," he said. Fairly unequivocal.

"If I asked customers in Austria, Switzerland or Germany they would probably give it the thumbs-up, but we are a global company and we have so many things to deal with on the powertrain side that we don’t go into products like this. This is what the SUVs are for."