Everything about Electric BMW M3 you should know

BMW’s development head, Frank Weber, confirmed, “The next M3 will be battery-electric, full battery-electric.”

The automotive industry is transitioning to electric vehicles, if only partially. This implies that automakers will adapt their combustion performance symbols for the brave new world of battery-powered vehicles over the next few years. The next Porsche 718 will be electric. Likewise for the upcoming Giulia Quadrifoglio from Alfa Romeo. Frank Weber, the head of development at BMW, also verified that “the next M3 will be battery-electric-full battery electric.”

The M3 won’t make the transition to EV abruptly. Additionally, Weber mentioned that the inline-six-powered combustion M3 will “coexist” alongside it; BMW has not promised to switch to electric vehicles by the 2030s. That being said, battery-electric power will be the future of M3 performance. Based on BMW’s initial remarks, this might get really crazy.

What will the electric BMW M3 be called?

BMW has not yet revealed the vehicle’s name. We are aware that BMW is dropping the “i” suffix from combustion cars in order to avoid confusion with the “i” prefix for electric vehicles. Even though BMW filed a trademark registration for the iM3, Frank van Meel, CEO of BMW M, made it clear that the company would never add a “i” to a M automobile.

Based on BMW’s past experiences with EV naming, it is likely that the M3 will remain in the name. Additionally, you should anticipate that the name will initially be short and uncomplicated (M3 EV? M3 Electric) before gradually becoming just “the M3.”

What will the electric BMW M3 look like?

BMW unveiled the Vision Neue Klasse and Neue Klasse X ideas as concept cars for its Neue Klasse lineup. These ideas point to a new, more traditional design philosophy for the upcoming generation of cars, which is essentially the reverse of what happened with the XM.

A basic three-box sedan should be the electric 3 Series’ configuration. A few signature BMW design cues, such as the Hofmeister kink, will be present along with sleek lines. It appears that these ideas mark the conclusion of the gigantic kidney-grille period. A smaller kidney grille that was lighted and angled vertically was utilized on the Neue Klasse X. That electric 3 Series will probably have an aggressive and sportier appearance in the form of the electric M3.

The electric M3 should have a roomy cabin thanks to the new EV-only architecture. Compared to existing BMW EVs, BMW’s new energy-dense (and less expensive) cylindrical battery cells should provide more efficient packaging and allow a lower riding height.

What will power the electric BMW M3?

BMW has made some information regarding the Neue Klasse platform public. It will employ an 800V architecture, as we know. According to BMW, its sixth-generation eDrive technology will be 25% more efficient, provide roughly 30% more range, and charge 30% faster. A quad-motor system has the capacity to produce up to 1 megawatt of electricity, or 1,341 horsepower, according to Weber. Additionally, BMW has been observed testing a quad-motor setup for upcoming electric M vehicles.

Naturally, there are differences between what BMW can accomplish technically and what it can produce. Therefore, don’t expect the electric M3 to have more than twice the power of the M3 Competition as it stands. The electric M3 need certainly have all-wheel drive, but it should also have the option to switch to the more traditional rear-wheel drive mode found in the M5. The electric M3 will include “settings where you can go deeper into something that is more and more rear-wheel drive-biased,” according to Weber, who spoke with CarSales.

When will the electric BMW M3 arrive?

A release date for the has not yet been confirmed by BMW. Currently, the best estimate is 2027. BMW anticipates using the iX3 crossover, which will go into production in late 2025, to introduce the Neue Klasse platform. 2026 should see the release of the electrified 3 Series car, likely to be dubbed the i3. The electric M3 will launch “early and close to the SOP (start of production) of the core model,” according to Weber.

How much will the electric M3 cost?

The electric M3’s price has not yet been disclosed by BMW, and 2027 is still a ways off. However, we can use some inference. Despite having more power and performance than the combustion X5 M60i, the iX M60 costs more than $20,000. The range of the combustion M3 at the moment is $76,000 to $85,300. Should BMW maintain a comparable pricing strategy for its electric 3 Series, a dual-motor i3 with comparable power might be priced at approximately the same as the current M3, while the more potent electric M3 would start at roughly $100,000.