- BMW decides to show off an M3 EV test mule
- Its style will likely incorporate much from the Neue Klasse concept
- Power numbers and battery size have not yet been announced
The vaunted BMW M3 has long been held as an example of a great performance car, even if some of its shine has vanished over the years. Now, with all hands on the verge of electrification, the mavens in Munich are working on an electron-munching variant built on bones of the next-generation 3-Series.
Even though the new i4 stands on its own and is, in this author’s opinion, much better than it has any right to be, there will always be a demand for an M3, no matter its drivetrain. BMW is tight-lipped about power numbers and battery size for the moment but did post numerous photos of a camouflage-clad test mule ripping around a closed course, rocketing forward with the type of EV soundtrack we’ve come to expect – which is to say an alien whine like the Millennium Falcon engaging hyperdrive.
What we do know is the next 3-Series is expected to bear styling characteristics introduced by the Neue Klasse concept car, though this M variant has distinctly swollen wheel arches as if it had an anaphylactic reaction to bee stings. Expect its front and rear fascias to be similarly aggressive compared to a standard 3; in other words, just like the differences between every 3-Series and M3 to date.
BMW is chirping a great deal about all-electric M vehicles, promising to preserve the ‘distinctive performance characteristics’ which are part of the M brand but enriching those characteristics with new facets. “Electrification opens up completely new degrees of freedom for us to create M typical dynamics,” says Dirk Häcker, Head of Development at BMW M. Impressive acceleration is assured, given the way an EV puts down its power, and handling is likely to benefit from batteries providing a worm-like centre of gravity.
We will be keeping an eye on curb weight of the electric M3, especially after the new M5 hybrid gained about 1,000 pounds over the old model. Other trims of the new 3-Series are expected to show up for 2026, with the M3 a year after they appear.
Sign up for our newsletter Blind-Spot Monitor and follow our social channels on Instagram ,Facebook and X to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice.