- The electric M3 will feature four motors delivering more than 700 horsepower.
- Fortunately, BMW will also sell the next-gen M3 with a twin-turbo six-cylinder.
- BMW doesn’t appear to have added any kind of ICE-inspired soundtrack to the EV.
A new chapter is about to begin for one of BMW’s most famed nameplates. The M3 has long stood as the benchmark for sporty driving in a usable, everyday package, first as a coupe, then as a sedan too. Now, a fully electric version is on the way, marking a major shift for the brand as the first true M car with an EV powertrain, following M Performance models like the i4 M50.
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While the current G80 M3 still holds its own, BMW’s M division is hard at work developing the next generation, and for the first time, it includes an all-electric variant.
Read: 2028 BMW M3 EV Getting Ready To Shock M Fans
Our spy photographers snapped the next electric M3 in action several times in recent months, and the latest footage shows it on the move at the Nurburgring. Judging by what we’ve seen (and hear) it looks like BMW isn’t jumping on the bandwagon of theatrical, fake engine noises like Dodge’s approach. That’s probably a good thing.
However, it’s possible BMW will pump some synthetic sound into the cabin, much like Hyundai does in the Ioniq 5 N. From the outside, though, it’s mostly just tire noise and wind.
Images: Baldauf
This prototype sports some trippy camouflage, covering the overhauled bodywork to bring the M3 in line with BMW’s Neue Klasse design era. It has distinctive headlights that’ll flow neatly into the redesigned kidney grilles. Additionally, it’s impossible not to notice the swollen front and rear wheel arches, as well as the pop-out door handles. This prototype also has an odd sensor popping out of the roof, but that’ll obviously be removed for the production model.
When the electric M3 does arrive, we suspect there will be precious few owners who actually take their cars to the track. But, if they do, it should be well-equipped to deliver some storming lap times. And while this prototype is silent, it does look fast.
BMW is remaining tight-lipped about the powertrain. It’s expected to use not one, not two, not even three electric motors, but four. While BMW has said this four-motor powertrain can deliver over 1,341 hp, the M3 will likely be capped at just over 700 horses. Advanced torque vectoring will play a big role in helping all that power make sense on the road or track.
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