The Carscoops renders of the M3 in this article are not affiliated with, nor have they been endorsed by BMW.
BMW has reportedly confirmed that the company is working on an all-electric M3, set to be released in the next four years. The car is expected to sit on the Neue Klasse platform. The Vision Neue Klasse Concept that debuted at the Munich Motor Show provides a near-production look at the next-generation 3-Series, with the new M3 likely to take after that.
The news of an electric M3 comes from a report by Carsales, whose journalists sat in on a roundtable interview with BMW’s product development chief, Frank Weber. Speaking to members of the press, it’s reported that Weber confirmed the German brand would release an all-new fully-electric M3.
Those among you who are already angrily typing in dismay at such a prospect, you need not worry – BMW will also be offering a gas-powered variant as well. Yes, Weber confirmed that the M3 EV would be sold alongside an ICE version. The fossil-fuel-burning car will feature a new powerplant – likely based on the existing six-cylinder S58 – developed to be Euro 7-compliant. “We will not have two different classes – there will be co-existence of the solutions in the market, which is necessary,” said Weber.
Related: BMW Neue Klasse Concept Reboots The Brand And The 3-Series For The Electric Age
Illustrations of a future BMW M3 based around the Vision Neue Klasse concept (Carscoops)
Back to the EV, the new battery-powered M3 could have the potential to offer up to a combined 1,000 kW (1,341 hp) of power from four individual electric motors. BMW has already previewed a quad-motor EV concept, with development continuing on a zero-emission i4-based and M3-faced prototype. The rolling testbed made an official appearance in 2022 and was caught by our spies earlier this year. We know that the model is not destined for production, but what lies under the metal may just provide insight into what to expect from the next M3.
Weber confirmed that the Neue Klasse platform could indeed handle up to 1,000 kW (1,341 kw) of power but wouldn’t be drawn into confirming whether the upcoming M3 EV would feature such a quad-motor drivetrain nor what kind of headline power figure it would eventually put out.
Of course, if the M3 EV were to produce such numbers, it would blow any ICE variant clear out of the water. In its most powerful CS form, the current car can “only” muster 542 hp (550 PS / 404 kW). However, we suspect the point of an ICE M3 would not be about the numbers alone, and rather about giving an option for those who would prefer to cling to the sounds and sensations delivered by internal combustion.
More: Facelifted BMW M3 Spied With New Lights, But Will It Get More Power To Battle AMG C63?
Weber as much confirmed that the EV version will be lacking in the sound department but that the performance of the EV would make up for that shortcoming: “I can guarantee to you there might be something wrong with the engine sound if [M customers] still miss this, but definitely not how the car behaves. It’s incredible.”
The BMW product development chief also spoke of how an electric architecture would enable drivers to have absolute control over the drivetrain. Part of that will include the option to explore rear-wheel-biased modes. The car will also be able to access each wheel’s individual controls, suggesting some extreme torque vectoring capabilities lie ahead. It’s all in search of providing “simply the highest and best performance” that customers of the M division demand.
As for a timeline, Weber said it wouldn’t be far behind the launch of the first Neue Klasse model, which will take place in 2025. Weber set a tentative date for the next EV M3 at 2027. “We said we want to have it early and close to the SOP [start of production] of the core [Neue Klasse] model because exactly as you mean, people want to have what M can do best also in the battery-electric world,” he said.
Are you a fan of BMW’s decision to make the next M3 electric? Do you want to see a high-performance sports saloon with a megawatt of power? How about BMW’s decision to keep an ICE version alive? Let us know in the comments below!
