BMW has published episode 3 of its ‘BMW M Electrified’ series, which tracks the progress and development of the next-gen fully electric M3, nicknamed ‘iM3’. In the latest episode it’s all about ‘controlling the beast’.
So we’ve heard the new fully electric M3 will be joined by a combustion-engined version as well. However, most of the pressure and spotlight seems to be on the fully electric model. Perhaps as this will be a big change from the four decades of M3 tradition.
The video talks about toying with 1000hp worth of electric motors, but, BMW M CEO Frank van Meel explains that all that power alone is “a little bit fun” to accelerate from 0-100km/h, but if you want to “actually drive precisely and want to have that agility from racing, then it is really far off if you just have a lot of horsepower”.
Although there have been rumours and reports floating about suggesting the electric M3 could offer 1000hp, it might not be the case for the production model. BMW M is mainly looking into ways of controlling the power and ensuring it offers a proper driving feel.
During a round-table discussion with media this week, we asked van Meel about the possibility of a RWD mode in the new electric M3, just like what is offered in the current M3/M4 Competition. He said:
“With four electric motors of course you can do anything you want. So for us, there are a lot of discussions we’re currently having. It’s about DSC off, it’s about M Dynamic mode. Because if you have a mechanical drivetrain, you just take away the stability control… and at the end you just let it go. But with four electric motors, there is no defined ‘let it go’.
“Actually, what we do want is the properties that every M car has today. That’s rear-wheel biased driving. So for us that is a very important issue. If that then is 2WD, actually with four electric motors, that’s a very complicated definition. But you will see, we will probably come to that during the stage of our development and we will also communicate what we are doing there.”
The new model is still very much in the development stage, with things like design, sound (there is a sneak peek of the potential sound at the end of the video below), and packaging far off from completion.
Engineers are configuring the powertrain and the handling dynamics with an i4 M50 based test mule because of its existing electrical platform, but some prototypes also appear to be based on the next-gen 3 Series (below). The team’s goal is to make sure it remains true to the M3’s heritage, while bringing in loads more technology and capability.
On a related note, we asked Frank van Meel about the potential timeframe left for diesel M variants, rear-wheel drive M models and availability of a manual transmission, to which van Meel said:
“Within our M portfolio, the diesels already have gone out. But to the other drivetrains and the rear-wheel drive, we are planning to keep them for quite a long while. With M2 and also M3 there are still versions with rear-wheel drive and with manual transmissions.
“Of course, if someday the electrification of drivetrains becomes more common, that is the new question; how many e-motors are you going to use, and is that then a rear-wheel drive or a four-wheel drive. But actually, right now, two wheels in the rear are fixed because that is the basis for every M car. Let’s just keep it that way. The rear-wheel drive will always be there.”
In terms of market entry for the electric ‘iM3’, van Meel says it is still quite some time away. Reports speculate around 2027-2028. It isn’t likely to be called iM3, either. Frank van Meel said:
“We never said iM3, because M3 is our promise. And we never put any ‘i’ or ‘e’ or whatever next to M3, so that will remain the same in the future as well, independent of the drivetrain.”
