BMW M3 EV revealed! Stunning wide-hipped concept previews 750kW production Neue Klasse electric weapon
Ahead of its reveal later this year, BMW has released one final concept for its next-generation M3 at the Le Mans 24 Hours, with the M Concept Neue Klasse tipped to be as close to the real thing as you can get.
Based heavily on the all-new i3 sedan, the inbound 2027 BMW M3 will be available with both an updated version of the current car’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder petrol engine and a wild quad-motor EV powertrain that will produce more than 750kW of power.
Created to be “instantly recognisable as a high-performance automobile”, the M Concept gains a dramatic V-shaped bonnet featuring triple-vane vents.
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While the front fascia draws links with past BMW icons such as the 3.0 CSL and the 635 CSi, the M Concept proudly sports pumped-up front arches and broader rear hips that are needed to package wider rubber all round.
Other updates to the standard i3 include fresh door mirrors, side skirts and a roof made from an alternative to carbon-fibre that uses more sustainable natural fibres.
Incorporating advanced aerodynamics, the front trimaran-style bumper is said to draw inspiration from sailing boats, while a striking new ducktail rear wing completes the aero upgrades.
Detailed changes include adopting yellow lamps from BMW racers such as the M Hybrid V8 LMDh sports prototype that competes in the World Endurance Championship.
A pair of 3D-effect ‘track lights’ have also been included within the bumper.
Inside, there are four bucket seats finished in M-themed Merino leather, complete with red harnesses for an extra racy feel.
There’s also an M-specific steering wheel and a new gear selector.
Full details have yet to be revealed for the M3’s advanced all-electric powertrain, but the M Concept has been confirmed to feature the same 800-volt electrical architecture as the i3 and iX3, plus a battery of “more than 100kWh”.
Early intel suggests the EV should produce almost twice as much power as the current 405kW BMW M3 CS, with an output that will exceed 750kW.
With that level of power, a 0-100km/h sprint of less than 3.0 seconds should be possible, making it the quickest M model ever, despite an announcement that the EV will cost the same as the petrol version.
Reports suggest that the new M3 will be no one-trick pony and will “stay true to BMW M DNA” when it comes to driving dynamics.
Helping it achieve unbeatable levels of agility and stability at high speed is the same Heart of Joy supercomputer that made its debut in the iX3 SUV.
Capable of managing torque for each of the four e-motors in a matter of milliseconds, the new M3 will offer unmatched levels of torque vectoring.
More tech designed to ramp up engagement in the EV version includes a synthesised six-cylinder soundtrack and simulated gearshifts controlled via steering wheel-mounted paddles — the latter mirroring what’s already available on the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N.
What’s not been confirmed yet is whether the BMW M3 EV will also sport the underfloor fans that produce real ground-effect aerodynamics, which the German brand revealed it is experimenting with on the 2025 Vision Driving Experience concept.
Commenting on the latest M Concept, BMW M chairman Franciscus van Meel said: “Even in the new all-electric era, we continue the M-typical tradition of transferring both technological innovations and defining design features directly from motorsport into series production.”
