- The electric M3 will launch in 2027 as the production version of the M New Class concept.
- It will be the only M3 model available until the next inline-six version arrives in 2028.
- Both sports sedans will be named M3, which will turn 40 this year.
Ever since BMW said it would be making an electric M3, reports started floating around the internet that the car would have an iM3 badge. However, this will not happen. When the production version of the M Concept New Class arrives next year, it will take its name from the gas-powered sports sedan the company has been selling since 1986. Yes, to the dismay of some purists, the electric M3 will be called… M3.
This has been confirmed by none other than the man who fired the shot in an interview with BMW M. Bimmer Today At the Goodwood Festival of Speed over the weekend, Frank Van Meel set the record straight:
‘Of course it’s called the M3. I never said anything different, but I always find it interesting how people talk about the iM3. An M3 was always an M3. Whether it was a four-cylinder, six-cylinder, V8, or M xDrive, it simply said M3 on it. It doesn’t change even when there is electricity.
Photo by: BMW
Not a replacement, but an addition
Don’t worry; High-performance EVs will not replace the gas-powered car. BMW is developing another generation of the M3 with an inline-six engine, but it’s not expected to arrive until late 2028. As a result, the electric version may be the only M3 on sale for about a year. The current G80 will be discontinued sometime next year, while the G84 is not expected to hit the roads until next year.
During the same interview, Frank van Meel also confirmed plans to give the next-generation 3 Series the M Performance treatment with a combustion engine once again. This is likely the 2027 M350 xDrive that accidentally appeared on BMW USA’s website earlier this year. Like the full-fat M3, the not-quite-M variant is expected to retain all six cylinders, but will use the B58 engine instead of the M-developed S58 found in the flagship model.
There’s also a good chance that BMW will introduce a fourth M-badged 3 Series by introducing an electric M Performance i3. Logic suggests it will wear the i3 M60 xDrive badge and slot between the already revealed i3 50 xDrive and the upcoming electric M3. Offering so many variants should appeal to a wide range of buyers looking for a sporty sedan, whether they prefer a gas engine or an electric motor.
With another 3 Series Touring on the way, there may be something exciting on the horizon for wagon enthusiasts, too. However, the company is yet to commit to M versions of the long-roof model.
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Source: BMW
Motor1’s Opinion: If BMW has decided to use the famous name first introduced by the E30 homologation special four decades ago, it appears to be confident in the capabilities of the electric M3. Quad-motor super sedans certainly have big potential, and traditional enthusiasts will be hard-pressed to convince them of this change.
Then, it won’t need to convince buyers to transition from ICEs to EVs. The six-cylinder M3 will continue to satisfy the needs of the gas-engine faithful and hopefully keep the pure rear-wheel-drive layout and manual gearbox alive for another generation.
