BMW Confirms Electric M3: Iconic Name Stays, Quad-Motor Power Promised

BMW has put an end to months of speculation about its upcoming electric performance sedan. The new battery-powered M3 will not carry the iM3 badge many expected. Instead, it will keep the classic M3 nameplate, a decision confirmed by BMW M boss Frank van Meel at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

By sticking with the M3 name, BMW is making a clear statement: this EV is not a spin-off or a compromise. It’s an equal successor to the legendary line, designed to sit alongside the next-generation combustion M3. The electric version could have been called iM3 if it followed the naming pattern used for other BMW EVs, but the company chose to emphasize that what makes an M3 goes beyond its engine.

The electric M3 is expected to be the most powerful M3 ever, with BMW’s new four-motor drivetrain architecture theoretically capable of up to 1,341 horsepower. Production models will likely dial that back, but even a base output of 700 hp would surpass every previous M3.

BMW M engineers are focusing on more than just raw power. Christian Karg, head of vehicle dynamics, told Auto Express, “It’s not about the horsepower. ” The sedan’s design was previewed by the M Concept Neue Klasse, which debuted at Le Mans and appeared at Goodwood. The concept is lower and wider than the standard i3, with aggressive fenders, a hood vent, yellow DRLs that may become an M signature, and a split rear spoiler.

Production models will be toned down, but the look is a strong hint for both the electric and combustion M3s. Traditionalists can also look forward to a new gasoline-powered M3 with a mild-hybrid six-cylinder engine, and despite different platforms, the two cars will appear nearly identical.