BMW has confirmed it’ll launch its first M-division EV in 2027, debuting as one of the latest Neue Klasse models to keep the brand going into the electric age.
A battery-powered counterpart to the BMW M3, the silent sedan will mark a significant point in the M brand’s history, having only recently launched its first PHEV in the XM, followed by the latest M5.
Officially called the BMW M Neue Klasse while it’s in prototype form, the electric M3 – which some have suggested will become the iM3 – is a quad-motor EV running on an 800-volt platform, with previous reports suggesting it’ll produce more than 750kW.
While this may make it BMW M’s most powerful production car ever, the performance brand knows its customers aren’t just interested in numbers, promising it’ll be a “new benchmark in the high-performance vehicle segment”.
“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,” said managing director Frank van Meel.
Importantly, it’ll follow in the footsteps of Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N (and Ioniq 6 N) by adopting fake gear shifts and a “newly developed soundscape”, the latter of which is understood to be a simulation of engine sounds.
Once thought of as a gimmick for EVs, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N struck a chord with performance car enthusiasts with its well-calibrated system which can mimic the shifts of an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and make sounds like a turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
It’s worth noting the Ioniq 5 N also has other simulated sounds than just the engine noise, though these aren’t used as much by drivers. BMW has yet to detail what its M Neue Klasse soundscape actually sounds like.
Though it’ll be fitted with a quad-motor powertrain – featuring one electric motor for each wheel – BMW says the front axle can be decoupled completely, allowing the electric M3 to switch from all-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive.
This not only benefits drivers who want to change the dynamics of the car, but it also assists in more practical ways such as increasing efficiency and driving range.
Speaking of, the prototypes of the BMW M Neue Klasse are powered by a battery with a capacity of more than 100kWh, making it the brand’s largest EV power pack to date.
With greater output and charging performance, it’ll be expected to rival the batteries from other premium brands.
BMW has previously said the electric M car will be its first to use natural fibre composites on a large scale, cutting CO2 production emissions while being just as strong.
Despite the fanfare for the M Neue Klasse, BMW will continue to sell a petrol-powered M3 alongside the EV, with a new-generation six-cylinder engine to sit under the bonnet.
Expected to launch in 2028, it may require hybrid assistance to stay in touch with its similarly sized rivals.
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