An electric version of the BMW M3 is in the works. The head of BMW M expects his electric sports car to outperform everything. The electric M3, potentially called the i3 M, probably won’t arrive until 2026 or 2027.
Luxury automaker BMW, known for creating sports car icons, has set a performance plan for the next generation of its electric cars.
Work is currently underway on those vehicles that will be based on the Neue Klasse platform. BMW’s M Performance division is devoting resources to creating M cars from these new vehicles. One of these vehicles will be an electric M3, which is among the most important historical models produced by the division.
Frank van Meel, the man in charge of BMW’s M division, told Motor Trend that the upcoming electric sports car is based on the Neue Klasse platform.“It will beat everything I’ve ever seen.”
Expected to be part of an expanded 3 Series lineup, the car may revive the i3 nameplate to be badged i3 M.
BMW began testing a four-motor performance powertrain in an i4 prototype in 2022. BMW has never said how much power this prototype produces. Motor Trend said that the upcoming high-performance car will have about 1,000 kilowatts, or about 1,341 horsepower. This would make the electric sports sedan the most powerful M car in history. It will also be more powerful than almost every production electric car on the market including the Lucid Air Sapphire and Tesla Model S Plaid.
BMW is developing the next generation of its electric powertrains in-house with a focus on lightweight and compact design.
M cars have always placed a strong emphasis on driving dynamics rather than outright power. It seems that the electric era will be no different despite the massive power output that this electric car comes with. Van Meel told the magazine that there will be a strong focus Handling, limits and chassis control are “neutral, linear and predictable”.
Purists will be happy to hear that Van Meel has confirmed that rear-wheel drive will be available in the electric car era, although obviously not with a 4-motor powertrain.
The electric M3 will likely arrive around 2026 or 2027.
