BMW 3-series Touring (2012) scooped

The new 2012 BMW 3-series Touring has been spotted a year before it hits showrooms - and our new spy photos suggest the F31 3-series estate will be more spacious and practical than ever before.

What makes the new 2012 BMW 3-series Touring so practical?

The new Three wagon shows off a long and straight roofline and these scoop pictures suggest the rear doors may be longer than before. Does this signal a focus on load-lugging rather than the usual underlying sportiness of BMW's compact executive estate rivals. The split rear tailgate of the outgoing E90 3-series will continue to be offered.

As is expected of Munich's wagons, the BMW 3-series Touring shares the majority of its styling cues with its saloon stablemate.

We'll see the new 3-series saloon in autumn 2011 and these spyshots suggest the Adrian van Hooydonk-penned F30 family has a softer face than its predecessor and bins the flame surfaces of old. It's more like a baby 5-series.

What will power the new 3-series Touring?

A mix of four- and six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines will be offered. An economy-conscious 318i 2.0-litre petrol four-pot will sit at the bottom of the range whilst 335i and 335d 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol and diesel units will top it. 

Filling in the gaps are 320i, 323i, 328i, 330i petrol and 318d, 320d, 325d, 330d and 335d diesel units.

BMW claims that new 3-series models will have a fuel-saving potential 11-17% greater than the outgoing models.

The new BMW 3-series Touring will hit UK showrooms in autumn 2012, some six months after its saloon counterpart. A 3-series GT will later be added to the range with sporty 4-series coupes and convertibles - and the M-car - arriving later.