BMW’s Electric M3 Keeps The Name, But Changes Everything Else

The first-ever electric BMW M3 has been spied with production bodywork for the first time, and the photos our spies captured at the Nürburgring not only confirm that the vehicle’s styling will adhere closely to that of the M Vision Neue Klasse concept but also that the EV will share its badge with the combustion M3 rather than wear a unique iM3 badge. The badge on the trunk is still covered up, but it clearly has the same shape as other M3s in the dynasty, and speaking with Bimmer Today, BMW M boss Frank van Meel reiterated that the EV will not get a new name.

“Of course it’s called M3,” said van Meel. “I’ve 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 had M xDrive, it simply said M3 on it. That doesn’t change even if it’s electric.” With that out of the way, let’s dissect the styling.

Electric BMW M3 Tones Down Over-the-Top Concept Styling

The rear of the car is the most interesting angle, showing how BMW’s electric M3 will introduce a less extreme, less caricatured take on the M Vision Neue Klasse concept, but there are still several similarities. For example, the diffuser is a long, flat element with passthrough elements for managing the airflow. We particularly like how this is fed by the skirts behind the rear wheels. Higher up, the deeply recessed trunk lid valley and integrated spoilers have been eschewed for a more traditional lip spoiler, suggesting the M3 EV will share its trunk with the i3 sedan. As always with an M3, the rear arches are swollen, and while they’re not as wide and aggressive as those on the concept, nor are they integrated into the rear doors, the way they flare out at the side skirts helps increase the impression of width. These side skirts also taper around the front arches, which are similarly blistered.

We’re particularly impressed to see that the hood vent, used to help cool the quad-motor powertrain, is making production. Spicy, multi-spoke wheels sit in front of drilled brake rotors on all four corners, and at the front, the electric M3 doesn’t have as aggressively raked a nose as the concept, but it’s still angled forward in salutation to the E24 6 Series and its ‘sharknose’ front end. As with the rear end, the front has a split design inspired by trimaran racing yachts, but it’s toned down here, adding horizontal vanes in the openings. These may be active elements that open and close as needed, but we’ll have to wait to learn more. Elsewhere, the wing mirrors have shorter, fatter stalks than the concept, and the winglet door handles hidden near the pillars appear to be gone, with flush door handles in the traditional location taking their place. Strangely, there’s no recess in the middle of the roof, despite the ‘double bubble’ effect being common on contemporary M cars and also appearing on the concept.

Electric BMW M3 Could Be Much More Powerful Than Expected

We know the electric M3 will sit atop an 800-volt architecture, feature an electric motor at each corner, and include simulated sounds and shifts. We had expected this to come in a package producing around 800 horsepower, but a new leak from earlier this month indicates that the rear axle alone will produce 751 hp, with the front generating another 644 hp. An overall figure was not revealed in the leak, and it’s nearly impossible to estimate because of variances in peak output deployment, mechanical resistance, and other factors like battery and inverter limits. But with more information becoming available and a near-production M3 lapping the Nordschleife, a full reveal is surely imminent.