BMW has been investing in a lot of new things, from innovative EVs to glowing LED nostrils. It’s now getting to the point where the wilder ideas are starting to bleed over into the company’s well-respected mainstream models. To that end, the Bavarians have revealed a test mule for the new BMW M3, and lo and behold, it’s going to be electric.
Thus far, BMW has kept its electric vehicles separate from its main lines. It released a capable electric sports sedan already, for example, but it wasn’t branded a BMW M3—it was an i4 M50 instead. However, with electric drive becoming more normalized, many automakers are looking at bringing EV products back under their mainstream nameplates. It appears that the Germans are about to do the same.
A camouflaged prototype of the new BMW M3 was splashed across the company’s social profiles today. It’s perhaps our best look yet at the immediate future of one of the brand’s most cherished models.
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We’ve only got limited photos to go on, and the car is heavily camouflaged. It also looks a little worn or dirty in some photos. Still, it tells us a lot about the M3 and the future 3 Series models it will presumably still sit above.
Most striking is the front end. It appears to draw from the earlier Neue Klasse concept, though it appears to be toned down to a greater or lesser degree. At a glance, it appears the prototype seen here might have a much more conventional rear end compared to the earlier concept, but it’s hard to say. It could be a more sober direction from the design team, or it could just be cladding that’s hiding the truth.
Overall though, this does look like a new M3 should. It’s got good German lines, and the front-end hints that the controversial mega-nostrils of recent models might not be sticking around in future. It’s also got , the bulked-out fender arches, lowered stance, and front and rear bumpers that all scream performance. That’s what we want to see.
It’s still early, and details on the powertrain and battery aren’t available at this stage. However, BMW’s M Division has been testing quad-motor drivetrains, with tantalizing possibilities for torque-vectoring shenanigans.
As covered by Autocar, the new electric M3 is still a ways away. Current word is that it’s due around 2028. The outlet also notes the M3 will still be available with a combustion engine option as well, so if you’re a purist, there’s no need to get mad just yet. It’s said to feature a turbocharged straight-six—just what we like to see in a hot BMW. The outlet noted that the electric M3 will be based off the pending Neue Klasse 3 Series, while the combustion version will be developed from the existing G80 M3 while sharing the same design language.
Based on comments from BMW M CEO Frank van Meel, it’s believed that EV and gasoline variants of the new model will both wear the M3 badge. “Do we need to set them apart?” van Meel stated to the UK outlet. “An M3 is a promise, not an engine.”
This isn’t the first time BMW has been open about its future electric performance plans. Just a few days ago, it dropped a video covering what its crack M Division is doing with regards to electrification. As we’ve seen in countless other examples, electric drive does offer huge power and instant torque, and thus blistering acceleration. While the combustion crowd continues to rail against change, BMW clearly believes that good driver’s cars can be built as EVs.
It appears that BMW is taking a bold but measured strategy going forward. It’s pushing ahead with an electric version of one of its most storied nameplates. At the same time, it looks like it’s going to keep a combustion-engined model on hand to stave off major outrage from the traditionalists.
It’s a sage move, familiar to any parents out there. Give a kid a bowl of something new and they’ll revolt, throwing their plate on the ground. The trick is to put the new food next to something familiar, and just ask them to take a little taste. They just might find that they really enjoy it. I suspect the same play might work wonders here, too.
Image credits: BMW
Yeah, no thanks. EV’s are TRASH and are not real cars.
Gasoline forever!
Sorry, I didn’t catch that, I was too busy being angry >:(
Why would anyone draw a line in the sand over BMW performing name debasement *now*?
I’m sure it’ll be immensely capable, immensely powerful, immensely expensive and immensely heavy.
I’m not angry, why would I be? I would never buy an overpriced piece of crap BMW before. So why would I waste money or be upset about another piece of crap I would not buy?
It’ll be fun seeing people act like this is the worst thing to ever happen to them
It’s like people bitching Yugo came out with a 4 door.
This does seem like the logical progression for BMW. First stick M on every model by default and next there are going to be two cars with different platforms and drivetrains both called an M3.
I’m guessing step 3 is going to be an M3X crossover once the X3M badging becomes entry level.
They show it already in the shop. Not a good start.
Love that
Meh, my interest for any BMW’s made past like 2010 is still at almost zero, with the exception of the first-gen M2.
Truly truth in advertising BMW would change their name to BM. FYI BM is old people speaking for bowel movement.
I have roughly equivalent interest in automatic performance cars and electric performance cars.
That side profile picture is giving me Dodge Avenger vibes.
The back end looks like a Pontiac G8
I see 2008 Chevy Malibu there too. Hope it’s just the cladding! Overall I think it’s going to look ok.
I’m not mad that its an EV.
I’m mad that there’s an extraneous piece of trim in the C Pillar that’s supposed to be some sort of replacement for the Hofmeister Kink.
It’s terrible, terrible design.
Drive EV sales by making the combustion cars ugly.
It really seemed to me like the Neue Klasse sedan concept was “close enough” to an achievable goal for a production car, but all of the test mules seem ungainly by comparison, which is disappointing. I guess this is a tradeoff of using one platform for both EVs and ICE powerplants, though EV-dedicated platforms seem to have fallen out of favor for the legacy OEMs.
I was really hoping for a 3-series more faithful to the concept. Maybe next generation.
-Everyone
We didn’t jump straight to 1,000HP daily drivable V8’s. It took an entire goddam century of progress. If we want lighter electric cars, we need to build electric cars and improve upon a multitude of technologies.
The gas M3 lives another generation. It’s going to be OK, guys.
People are still angry about the M5. At least there will be a wagon.
BMW clearly doesn’t believe a good driver’s car should be low in mass.
It used to. The 507 and M Coupe “Clownshoe” are great. Some of BMW’s current car offerings are approaching the mass of a Hummer H2.
The 507 weighed 2,932lbs in an era when you could get a 1,940lb 356 roadster or a 2,720lb V12 engined 250 California. It’s gorgeous but weighs more than a 986 Boxster.
How much is a freaking quad motor 3 series going to weigh? The dual motor i4 M50 already weights over FIVE THOUSAND pounds. There’s a chance this tops the scales at 6-7,000. I know Ze Germans decided that weight doesn’t matter years ago but there’s just no way that something this heavy is going to be engaging.
IMHO they’d be better off leaving their “performance” EVs as M Sport models rather than full Ms. Anyway apparently the S58 is emissions compliant until 2030 or something like that so no need to worry. Fortunately you’ll be able to pick up an EV M3 for like 40 grand a year after they’re released if you want one for some reason.
Dear Autopian authors and editors,
What’s with the recent trend (at this site and others) with the ‘don’t get mad!’ or ‘get ready to get mad!’ or ‘don’t be mad, but…’ tags on all the articles about upcoming performance EV’s? Earlier this week they were all related to the Charger Daytona, mostly riffing on the (rather reductive and tired) trope of traditional Hemi buyers being upset that the new car is electric. Now the same phrasing pops up about a BMW M car?
It almost seems as if there was a recent article put out about how these sorts of phrases help SEO, and everyone looking for click throughs or whatever piled on to try it out. We normies outside of the digital publishing industry have a different name for those sorts of strategies – Clickbait. It’s pandering, and we don’t appreciate it.
This site is built on good content written by good writers with integrity honesty and care. You’re built different than your competitors on purpose, and that’s why many of your readers (myself among them) are happy to pay a membership to support you doing things the right way. Lean into that! Be different by doing the right thing.
I have a list of answers, #7 will shock you!
Cosigning all of this.
Also adding that “The new M3 is going to be electric!!!” as the title, but “A gas version will also be offered” in the body of the article is also clickbaity in a way I don’t really appreciate.
“Some geniuses made the M3 electric!”
In four years time.
Urgh.
Is this the Autopia we love?
I’m still wondering why I should be mad at Nissan converting an R32 GTR to electric power yesterday.
I way more likely to be mad that no one currently makes a 2-door coupe (I know I shouldn’t have to specify how many door a coupe has, but the world has gone…. …what’s the word?) with box-flaired fenders and quad round taillights.
“We wrote an article and you won’t BELIEVE what happened next!”
I mean, just because they hope to get most of their money from memberships doesn’t mean that ad revenue from free users isn’t still important.
I don’t blame them for it. They’ve gotta do what gets clicks.
100% Agree.
And for the love of god, stop making every article thumbnail look like it’s from YouTube.
I have found the over ‘shopping of font to get a little silly, but I don’t see it as something that deserves that reaction. They’re not posting tons of reaction faces, for example
Agreed. But if we do start seeing the Mr. Beast shocked face everywhere, I’ll start handing out the pitchforks and torches myself.
I accept the occasional alarmed DT face, but also agreed
I noticed this, uh, “inflammatory language” at the charger article, but i thought it’d be a one-off deal. I guess I was wrong. Seems like rage-bait content around EVs vs. Gas engines.
I hope they respond soon.
I don’t care enough to be angry. An even heavier and faster M3 is not what the world needs in any way, my interest in them ended with the E36 in 1998. BMW is dead to me anyway.
I do think the Neue Klasse concept is absolute gorgeous perfection on the outside, but the inside – eeesh. And I would want mine motivated by a proper n/a inline six. Not holding my breath on that in any way either.
Is that camo? Because I deadbolt love that livery.
Yeah, that’s a term my wife and I came up with to fight “lowkey.” Because the deadbolt is higher and stronger than the low key. The battle against Gen Z/Alpha slang has to start somewhere.
I feel we need Torch to make a ranking of best prototype camos in automotive history. This has to be a contender.
I’ll nominate Bentley disguising the Flying Spur as an S-Class since 2004. Complete with the contemporary S-Class front and rear light graphics printed on the camo.
I thought your phone autocorrected “deadass,” another appropriate slang word in this context. ????
I liked “deadbolt” even before you explained its origin.
I join you, and will do my level-old-man-best to spread this gospel.
No, can have old man saying slangs! It deadbolt won’t catch on!!
(Checks age) Oh, crap.
Wow, that isn’t very skibidi of you.