Electric BMW M3 coming to “beat every little thing”

• An electrical BMW M3 variant is within the works
• BMW M division’s boss expects his electric sports automobile to “beat every little thing”
• The electrical M3 variant, possibly called i3 M, probably won’t arrive until 2026 or 2027

Luxury automaker BMW, known for making sports automobile icons, has mapped out a performance plan for its next-gen EVs.

Work is underway on those vehicles, which shall be based on the Neue Klasse platform. BMW’s M performance division is dedicating resources to create M cars from these latest vehicles. One among those vehicles shall be an electric M3, which is amongst an important and historic models the division churns out.

Frank van Meel, the person in control of BMW’s M division, told Motor Trend the upcoming electric sports automobile based on the Neue Klasse platform “will beat every little thing you may have ever seen.”

Expected to be a part of an expanded 3-Series lineup, the sedan might revive the i3 nameplate to be badged i3 M.

BMW began testing a 4-motor performance powertrain in an i4 prototype back in 2022. BMW never said how much power that prototype made. Motor Trend said the upcoming performance vehicle could have about 1,000 kw, which is about 1,341 hp. That will make the electrical sport sedan essentially the most powerful production M automobile in history. It could even be more powerful than nearly every production electric automobile in the marketplace including the Lucid Air Sapphire and Tesla Model S Plaid.

BMW has been developing its next-generation electric motors in-house with an emphasis on lightweight and compact design.

M cars have at all times had a robust deal with driving dynamics fairly than outright power. The electrical era appears like it’s going to be no different despite the acute power output coming on this electric automobile. Van Meel told the magazine that a robust emphasis shall be placed on “neutral, linear, and predictable” handling, limits, and chassis control.

Purists shall be delighted to listen to van Meel confirmed rear-wheel drive shall be available within the EV era, though obviously not with a 4-motor powertrain.

The electrical M3 variant will likely arrive around 2026 or 2027.