The Electric BMW M3 Will Have a Quad-Motor Powertrain
BMW is doing everything in its power to make sure that the first all-electric M3 lives up to its legendary name.
The German automaker has released the first concrete details about the upcoming battery-powered version of one of its most beloved performance models. The EV is set to feature a quad-motor powertrain and synthetic gear shifts, two things the marque hopes will help it deliver the driving experience that enthusiasts expect from an M car.
We’ve known a fully electric M3 would be included as part of BMW’s Neue Klasse lineup of EVs for a few years now, but until no,w that was it. The main piece of information delivered on Tuesday is that the sedan will feature a quad-motor powertrain. Each axle will have a pair of electric motors, with one at each positioned at each wheel.
The electric BMW M3 prototype
BMW
That doesn’t mean the electric M3 is strictly all-wheel drive, though. The front-axle can be “completely decoupled,” giving whoever is at the wheel access to BMW M’s “renowned” rear-wheel drive. That’s not the only step BMW is taking to ensure the new M3 delivers the same feel and experience as its predecessors. The car, which will run on BMW’s new “Heart of Joy” software, will also come with a range of “predefined” driving modes. Each preset will have its own “simulated” gear shifts along with a specially developed soundscape, though we imagine fully capturing the roar of an inline-six may be more difficult than anticipated. Drivers will also be able to use the software to further customize their experience.
BMW also revealed that the car will utilize an 800-volt architecture. The automaker also said the power source will be a high-voltage battery that will have over 100kWh of usable energy. We’ll have to wait for actual numbers, but Neue Klasse EVs will offer faster charging than the brand’s current crop of battery-powered vehicles.
The production version of the EV could arrive as soon as 2027
BMW
We’re still waiting on a firm timetable, but BMW suggests that the electric M3 will make its debut sometime in 2027. That would be in line with the current plans to release the new iX3 SUV this year and the i3 sedan in 2026. Expect pricing information closer to that date, though something in excess of the current M3’s $79,575 starting price seems likely.
Click here for more images of the electric BMW M3 prototype
