While BMW made it clear that it plans on sticking to internal combustion engines (ICE) for quite some time, it’s only a matter of time before its coveted M models transform into electric vehicles (EVs). I mean, I’ve personally driven both the BMW i4 M50 and i5 M60 electric models, and they’re as close as it gets to a true electric M car. And you know what? They were actually pretty fun to drive.
It gets more interesting than that. The new BMW M5 is not universally loved by the motoring press, mostly due to its excessive weight, but also the complexity of its plug-in hybrid powerplant. Sure, its main source of propulsion remains a twin-turbocharged V-8, but the sad truth is that an i5 M60 is quicker to 60 MPH. Oops. So, why not just throw in the towel and simply remove the ICE altogether? It seems like that’s precisely what BMW is about to do with the upcoming M3 EV.
The Gasoline-Powered M3 Is Here To Stay
For those already mad about the idea of an electric M3, don’t worry. BMW currently has no plans to remove the gasoline-powered one from its lineup, and the next-generation car will probably carry on with an ICE as well. What we’re seeing here is an EV based on BMW’s upcoming Neue Klasse platform, which will be exclusive to electric vehicles. But don’t expect the fully electric M3 to arrive anytime soon, as it’ll come later in the Neue Klasse sedan’s lifecycle, sometime in 2027.
But the camouflaged prototype – apparently called ZA0 – reveals the key attributes of a proper M car that we love so much, like flared wheel arches, a proper three-box sedan look, and an aggressive stance. We’re not seeing much in terms of the car’s styling, but we can assume that it’ll borrow queues from the recently revealed Neue Klasse design language, which also showcased a sedan. It also feels good to not see the current M3’s massive grille. BMW seems to want to come back to a more low-key, understated look. And, I’m totally down with that.
The Electric M3 Could Make Use Of BMW’s Quad-Motor Technology
We recently reported on BMW’s plans to incorporate a new form of quad-motor technology for its future performance EVs. And a while back, our spy shooter caught photos of a mysterious BMW coupe equipped with wheel hub electric motors. So it would only make sense to see the next M3 EV be equipped with similar technology.
But that M3 could not showcase the full might of this layout, as BMW could reserve the full 1,341 horsepower suggested by this system for upper trim M models like the M5, and even grand touring cars like the M8. Rather, the electric M3 could be tuned to compete against the current gasoline-powered M3, with around 500 or even 600 horsepower. But at this point, it’s too early to know. This is still all speculation. We’ll need to wait for BMW’s official release to know more. We’ll make sure to report back here once the information is available.
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