Hiding in Plain Sight
With the unprecedented all-electric BMW M3, codenamed ZA0, just around the corner, BMW has been spotted testing the EV on multiple occasions around the Nürburgring in Germany. A recent spy video via PrototypeHunters shows the new M3 driving on public roads, giving a better idea of its proportions and what it would look like in everyday conditions.
When spotted near an Audi SUV, the electric M3 appears to have a wide, muscular stance, with pronounced rear haunches. The camouflage is still on, so design details are hard to pinpoint, though the Neue Klasse design language is undeniable. It looks similar to the concept car, except for the rear end, which looks a bit tamer. But that’s to be expected, given that automakers tend to exaggerate concept car designs to make a stronger visual impression.
A Heavyweight Contender
One of the most noticeable details in the spy video is the gold brake calipers. Although not confirmed yet, this could mean the electric M3 will offer carbon-ceramic brakes, which would help slow a vehicle carrying heavy EV components, such as the confirmed battery pack exceeding 100 kWh. That’s larger than the 84-kWh battery in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, another high-performance EV.
The spy video also caught the camouflaged prototype at a BMW facility making what sounded like cooling fan noises. Cooling will be crucial, given its confirmed quad-motor powertrain. What’s not yet disclosed is the horsepower, though reports suggest that the EV could make around 800 to 900 hp. If so, the ZA0 would become the most powerful production M car, beating the 738-hp output of the XM Label.
In addition, the dashboard was briefly captured, showing what appears to be BMW Panoramic Vision, which stretches across the base of the windshield. It’s designed to reduce the need for drivers to look down at the dashboard for essential driving information.
The Best of Both Worlds
The all-electric BMW M3 is expected to debut in 2027. It will sit above the i3, which is scheduled to arrive in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2027, starting at $61,500 before destination charges. The M counterpart should command a higher price.
But the Bavarian automaker isn’t completely shifting the M3 to electric power. The nameplate, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, will later get a gasoline-powered version, potentially with mild-hybrid assistance, while retaining the inline-six engine.
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