BMW is forging ahead with a fully-electric M3. These official spy pictures show the prototype testing in ice and snow. As far as we know, BMW will be producing and offering two powertrains for the market in terms of the M3: Hybrid petrol as well as full electricity.
“Born on the racetrack. Made for the streets. Core of a passionate community”, to life with a fully electric drivetrain. “The next generation of models are set to establish a new benchmark in the high-performance vehicle segment,” says Franciscus van Meel, Managing Director of BMW M GmbH. “With the latest generation of Neue Klasse technology, we are taking the BMW M driving experience to a new level and will inspire our customers with outstanding, racetrack-ready driving dynamics for everyday use.”
Using the latest 800V technology available to them, BMW is putting that into the M3. It is the same tech found in the new iX3 that has an 800km range. Of course we don’t expect that long a range for the hi-performance M3, but if it is between 500km and 600k it would be a huge win.
M3 is mainly about performance, and some of that comes from using lightweight materials. EV batteries are quite heavy, but van Meel reckons it will be light and nimble, with no less than four motors attached to each wheel. This assists not only with excellent balance, but also instant power delivery to the right wheel at all times. Simultaneously, the two front motors can be totally deactivated so only the rear axle has power, creating a rear-wheel drive (RWD) system that is typically BMW.
We expect the M3 to launch in the coming year. Hopefully something will be shown at the 2026 BMW M Festival which will happen in the middle of the year.
