Overview
- BMW M chief Frank van Meel confirmed this week at the Goodwood Festival of Speed that the battery‑electric performance sedan will carry the M3 badge rather than an 'iM3' name.
- The electric M3 will ride on BMW’s Neue Klasse architecture with a reported quad‑motor, 800‑volt layout that BMW says can theoretically support extreme power levels, though production outputs are expected to be lower.
- BMW will sell the EV alongside a visually similar gasoline successor built on an updated CLAR platform with a mild‑hybrid inline‑six, and company releases and testing footage show both models following the M Concept Neue Klasse design language.
- To preserve M driving character in the EV, engineers plan simulated gear shifts, a bespoke in‑car soundscape and focused chassis tuning, while the concept previews production‑intent sustainable parts such as flax‑based natural‑fiber composites.
- The move keeps nameplate continuity and consumer choice intact and raises near‑term questions about pricing, final power figures and exact launch timing, with the electric M3 expected around 2027 and the gasoline model later.