The watchwords for BMW this year, and over the next few years, are Neue Klasse, which begins a new electrified era for the company. In English, it means “New Class” and the German automaker’s plans are big. Really big.
We say big not only because of the sheer number of EVs BMW has planned for the next few years, but because one of the first to arrive will be an all-new 3 Series (i3) EV. A pure electric M3 is expected to follow. The 3 Series and M3 are as core to BMW as it gets, with both models having served as sales and high-performance workhorses for decades. Simply put, they are brand identity cars.
But what will these cars look like? We’re not sure, yet, but Car and Driver recently ran a story on its website that included an illustration of what an M3 EV might look like. Finished in bright yellow, the rendering, complete with big wheels and a performance version of the Neue Klasse face, offers an intriguing performance vision for the future of the M brand. The attached photos from BMW give some indication of how the new i3 will appear.
As for performance, BMW has yet to say anything publicly about an electric M3. Car and Driver said BMW’s M division has been experimenting with “quad-motor” powertrains, as means of separating an M3 EV from M-related models such as the current i4 M50 EV. The site also notes that the i4 makes 282 or 335 horsepower in RWD from, 396 in AWD, and 536 for the M50.
The new i3 and iX3 SUV are expected to be shown in production form by the end of this year, so we probably won’t officially hear about an M3 EV until 2026. But if it’s anything like the i4 M50, it should be highly desirable among enthusiasts.
