BMW ‘can’t understand’ the ‘haters’ of the electric M3
Covers have yet to be pulled off the electric BMW M3, but the brand is already having to counter criticism.
The BMW M3 is only a matter of years – if not months – away from being split down two distinct paths, with the performance sedan to be offered in traditional petrol-powered guise as well as in electric form.
BMW previewed the design of both, though namely the electric M3, with the Concept M Neue Klasse at Le Mans earlier this month, and has slowly drip-fed information about the upcoming super sedan.
With reports suggesting the electric M3’s 800-volt, quad-motor platform will support power outputs of more than 750kW, it will well and truly be in another league compared to the petrol-powered M3, but that hasn’t stopped detractors from appearing online.
From claims it’ll be too heavy, to saying it won’t invoke the soul of the M3, BMW has come under fire before even officially revealing the EV – something which BMW M’s head of customer, brand and sales says it can’t understand.
“The haters, I cannot really understand, because in order to judge something, you should, first of all, experience it,” Sylvia Neubauer told BMW Blog.
“And then decide whether you like it or not. Experience the car and after that they can decide whether they like it or not. And if they don’t like it, they can still go for the combustion-engine cars.”
BMW M CEO Frank Van Meel has confirmed the electric M3, like a growing list of performance EVs, will feature simulated gear shifts and fake engine noises in order to keep customers happy.
“It’s essential [gear simulations], so that you know how quick you are going,” Van Meel told Pistonheads.
"On the track with gears you know how quick you are going into each corner. Simulated ratios will help this be maintained in the electric car.
“I won’t say we’re fully copying a gearbox [characteristics] as then we’d copy the negatives. We need to find the good things and then use those to enhance the driving experience.”
BMW has teased that the electric M3 will feature a “newly developed soundscape”, with a video previously uploaded to YouTube showing its team recording engine sounds from three recent performance models, which will likely be piped into the EV’s cabin.
These include the E92 M3 GTS (powered by a 4.4-litre V8 engine), the F82 M4 GTS (powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-litre straight-six engine), and the E63 M6 (powered by a 5.0-litre V10).
