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So you're a family man and need a vehicle that pleases the wife, the kids and the dogs. But what about your needs? One German company, Manhart Racing, has proven that you don't have to buy a limp-wristed estate to keep everybody else pleased.

Manhart says they built the car "that BMW didn't want to build: an M3 touring" model.

The company's "legendary" mechanic Günther Manhart gave the body a complete overhaul and designed his own bonnet, rear apron and widened the rear wheel-arches "to give them that M3 look".

Fortunately, Herr Manhart thinks that cars that only look good are for sissies. This overhaul also packs some power under the bonnet.

It was initially destined to be fitted with a 4.2-litre, V8 engine but Manhart thought he would go one better and the squeezed in the formidable five-litre, V10 engine from the M5 E60.

The engine drives a 7-speed SMG transmission and the 410kW it produces can catapult the car from 0 to 100km/h in only 4.3 seconds.

Manhart says it easily outperforms most other performance saloons and estates (including the 'true' M3 and M5 models) and has a top speed of 324km/h.

Germans don't leave anything to chance and so the cabin was also reworked. BMW sports seats in the front row and and the back row is upholstered to match. Carbon fittings and a BMW performance steering wheel with illuminating indicator switches "really give the car that racing look", says Manhart

At some points, of course, this estate has to slow down. That is all taken car of by a Stoptech Sport Trophy Kit braking system with a six-pot calliper and grooved 380mm brake discs at the front and a four-pot calliper with 355mm brake discs on the drive shaft.

The wheels are 20-inch alloys with 255/30ZR20 and 295/25ZR20 Hankook S1 Evo tyres for grip and superb acceleration.

Manhart Racing will gladly create this ultimate estate for you and put the purchase price for the complete car package at around €120 000 (R1 298 400). That includes the purchase price for the original car that gets modified. They will also upgrade existing BMW’s to the specifications for less.

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