The Electric M3 Will Be Unlike Anything You've Ever Seen Before
There's a lot to cover here, so let's jump right in. As first spotted by BMW Blog, reliable BMW insider and Bimmer Post user ynguldyn has dropped a bunch of unreleased information concerning the future electric M3, starting with confirmation that the vehicle known by the internal code ZA0 will enter production in March 2027, as was broadly suspected. The post goes on to say that only one version (the sedan) is being produced for the time being, though a wagon is all but certain for whatever version of the M3 comes next. Speaking of sedans, the post says that the electric 3 Series (NA0/NA1) will enter production in July next year with the Iconic Glow front grilles that will eventually give all Bimmers an unmistakable signature, day or night.
Much More Power Than Previously Suggested
We should note that the images used in this article depict the Vision Driving Experience, a prototype test bed for BMW's 'Heart of Joy' central computer. BMW says this is a one-off that does not inform any future vehicles, though the next generation of Neue Klasse-based M cars will undoubtedly take some styling inspiration from its design. With that out of the way, the next claim (this time from BMW Blog sources) is that the electric M3 will not stay below 700 horsepower, something that had been rumored in order to give vehicles like the G90 M5 and G08 XM some breathing space. They claim that the battery-operated M car will develop between 800 and 900 hp, though the quad-motor system that some speculated would reach the M3 is still likely to be reserved for high-end applications like the aforementioned M5. It should be noted that the Bimmer Post insider says we should 'not expect powertrain specs here until just a few months before [the] start of production.' It's a lot more difficult to lock down a figure that could be changed by a software update in an EV than to determine how much power an engine will make as EPA certification, dyno testing, and other evaluations are carried out.
Numerous Options On The Table
Let's return to the Bimmer Post claims, which sound entirely plausible. Once again, sportier seats will reportedly be available as an option, but this time, they won't be made of carbon fiber. Instead, the new flax fiber technology that BMW announced as production-ready last week will reportedly be used. M-specific trim elements and head-up display are said to be standard, with more flax fiber in areas that would traditionally be made of carbon composite, like the spoilers, mirrors, and grille inserts. 20-inch wheels will be standard, claims the report, with forged 20s and staggered 20-/21-inch wheels optional alongside carbon-ceramic brakes. What does not appear to be an option is a lightweight roof, with the post claiming that a panoramic sunroof will be shared with the regular 3 Series. Perhaps the inevitable Competition version will address this, since BMW has claimed CO2 emissions reductions of up to 40% with flax fiber versus a similarly sized carbon fiber roof. Finally, for the styling anyway, M-specific headlight graphics are expected.
One More Revelation: The Electric M3's Name
We've been saving this for the end because it requires a discussion on its own. According to the leak, the electric 3 Series will be called i3 and the electric M3 will wear the iM3 badge. BMW has already begun dropping the 'i' suffix from the badges of its combustion-powered cars – the M340i will soon be the M350, for example – with officials saying that cars with it being sold in the same showroom as EVs with the letter as a prefix were causing confusion among buyers. Therefore, we understand the move with respect to the next 3 Series. It also makes a certain amount of sense for the M3, especially after BMW applied for the iM3 trademark in Europe twice. I wrote the story breaking the news of the application for CarBuzz back in 2023, but almost immediately after the article blew up, Frank van Meel told Top Gear, 'We would never use an i on an M.' That seemed pretty conclusive, but with this new leak claiming otherwise, perhaps BMW has decided that differentiation between EVs and combustion cars matters just as much for M cars as for regular Bimmers. We'll report back once we know more. Given this barrage of information now being leaked, we won't have long to wait.
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