- BMW M CEO has confirmed the next-gen M3 will offer ICE and electric power.
- New M Ignite engine that debuts in the current M3 will carry over to new model.
- Gas-powered sedan is expected to arrive in 2028, roughly a year after the EV.
BMW used the 24 Hours of Le Mans to introduce the electric M Neue Klasse concept. However, the next-gen M3 isn’t going electric-only.
In an interview, BMW M CEO Frank Van Meel confirmed the next-generation model will be offered with a version of the company’s updated twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six engine that complies with Euro 7 emission standards. Announced last month, the mill uses BMW M Ignite technology to burn cleaner and more efficiently.
More: BMW M Found A Way To Make The M3 And M4 Greener Without Touching Power
The engine will appear in the current M3 and M4 next month, while the M2 will get it in August. However, Van Meel told PistonHeads it will also be used in the next-generation of performance cars.
As he said, “Our motorsport-derived-tech M Ignite Euro 7 S58 comes out this year, so I can say that it will survive to go into our future M cars.” He added, “It won’t be hybrid as we’re sticking with the perfect combustion principle.”
That being said, the ICE-powered version of the next M3 will have mild hybrid technology. However, it won’t follow in the footsteps of the M5 and be a plug-in hybrid. That’s good news, because the latter super sedan has packed on the pounds thanks to a beefy 22.1 kWh battery pack.
Furthermore, despite earlier reports, Van Meel suggested a manual transmission is a possibility as he said “We want to do it for the driving emotion.” This shouldn’t be too surprising as it sounds like the upcoming model will effectively have a carryover powertrain.
The report also suggested the upcoming electric variant might not be called the i3 M as many expected. This could make things confusing, but the company reportedly wants people to know the EV is a ‘proper’ M3. Speaking of which, Van Meel said “The EV won’t just be the quicker car in a straight line, it’ll be faster around a track too.”
Aside from the next-generation M3, the executive revealed they’re “dreaming” about an M1 successor and a production model is “entirely possible.” However, he added that “you have to have the production capacity” to build it.
