Here’s Proof That a Pure Combustion BMW M3 Is Coming

BMW’s Two-Pronged M3 Strategy

BMW already teased us with the M Neue Klasse Concept, giving fans a taste of what an all-electric M3 could look like. The concept came out swinging with wild styling and an 800-volt setup, but left us all wondering: would the real thing actually look like this, and what about the classic six-cylinder M3 we know and love?

Now, we’re finally getting some answers. During a recent test day at the Nürburgring, both versions of the new M3 were caught on camera, lapping the Green Hell together. Jump at the 0:14 mark in the video below, and you’ll spot them – BMW’s future tearing up the same track.

The Six-Cylinder M3 Lives On

While Mercedes-AMG and Audi are busy stuffing their rivals with plug-in hybrid tech, BMW’s M boss Frank van Meel has already confirmed the next gas-powered M3 will skip the hybrid bits entirely. He calls it ‘powertrain purity.’ We call it sticking to your guns.

With a familiar sound from the video, the first spotted M3 runs the has a twin-turbo S58 inline-six, now with BMW’s new M Ignite tech and a lightweight mild-hybrid system to keep the emissions police happy.

That move keeps the weight down, too. No giant battery pack means the next M3 should be much lighter than its plug-in rivals. It also means there’s still hope for a manual gearbox – something fans won’t stop begging BMW to keep.

The Electric M3 Steps Into The Spotlight

The Nürburgring test session also offered a closer look at the all-electric M3, which is identified by the yellow safety sticker required on high-voltage development vehicles.

The production prototype dials back some of the Neue Klasse Concept’s wildest bits, but keeps the essentials. The sharknose front end is still there, along with the hood vent and that wide rear stance. The crazy diffuser and huge fenders? Toned down for the real world. And yes, BMW says it’ll just be called the M3 – no ‘iM3’ badge nonsense.

With both cars now out in the wild, the next M3 is almost ready for prime time. Expect the gas-powered version to land first, likely in 2027, with the electric M3 hot on its heels as BMW rolls out more Neue Klasse models.