2013 BMW 3 Series wagon confirmed for U.S.

Contrary to earlier reports, the BMW 3-Series touring wagon (codenamed F31) will be available in North America.

The current 3-Series E91 wagon was withheld from the North American market due to low demand.

Speaking at the Detroit auto show earlier this month, product planning and strategy manager, Paul Ferraiolo, said the new generation F31 wagon will be offered alongside the sedan, coupe and convertible models.

No timetable was given but the 3-Series wagon is expected to arrive late this year or early next year as a 2013 model year.

The new 3-Series wagon will makes it world premiere at the Leipzig Auto Show this spring.

Engines include the usual suspects, a new 2.0 liter turbocharged unit in two power configurations - 184 PS (135 kW / 181 bhp) and 245 PS (180 kW / 241 bhp). The 3.0 liter inline six-cylinder unit will be featured as well and get bumped up a little to 320 PS (235 kW / 315 bhp) and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) from the current 306 PS.

On the diesel side there will be a 2.0 liter unit with outputs of 143 PS (105 kW / 141 bhp) and 184 PS (135 kW / 181 bhp).

An ActiveHybrid 3 model is also in the works and it will likely have a turbocharged 3.0-liter petrol and a 54 PS (40 kW / 54 hp) electric motor as seen in the ActiveHybrid 5.

Recent rumors also mention another possible hybrid powertrain. It is a 2.0 liter four-cylinder diesel engine supported by a 15 kW electric motor for a combined output of 221 hp (224 PS / 165 kW).

More BMW 3-Series F31 wagon rednerings at TheophilusChin.com