BMW Files New ‘iM3’ Trademark – All-Electric M3 Coming Soon?

A new trademark application by BMW revealed that the next-gen M3 EV might be named as the 'iM3'

It is no secret that BMW is building an all-electric successor to one of its iconic nameplates, the BMW M3 for its next-gen iteration. Ahead of its eventual debut some time in the future, it seems we’ve got to know more about this potent EV saloon, as revealed by a trademark application filed by the Bavarian marque.

BMW's trademark application for 'iM3' on the European Union Intellectual Property Offica (EUIPO)

Discovered by German automotive magazine Auto Motor und Sport, BMW has filed a trademark application for ‘iM3’ on both the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and Germany’s Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt (DPMA). This filing indicates that the future all-electric M3 might be called the iM3, with the ‘i’ lettering usually indicating an all-electric version of an ICE model, just like how the iX1 is the electric version of the X1 SUV.

BMW development chief Frank Weber (left) revealed that the next-gen M3 EV will underpin BMW's latest Neue Klasse EV platform

Prior to this trademark application, BMW development chief Frank Weber revealed some juicy details about the next-gen all-electric M3. Aside from underpinning BMW’s new Neue Klasse EV platform, the next-gen M3 EV will also boast a quad-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) setup that can deliver up to 1,000 kW (1,431 HP) of total system output. Though we don’t know the iM3’s exact output, we can expect it to surpass the ICE model’s output by a healthy margin.

Weber also revealed that this setup will be complemented by the new ‘Heart of Joy’ control unit, which promises all new BMW performance EVs to boast a distinct driving character that has been the signature to many ICE-powered BMW models of late. This includes several rear-wheel-biassed driving modes, as well as the ability to adjust the power and torque distribution for each of its four wheels.

BMW Vision Neue Klasse concept EV

With the next-gen BMW ‘iM3’ EV being based on the Vision Neue Klasse concept, we can expect this performance EV saloon to be less bulky than the current-gen M3 model. As for its visuals, we can expect the ‘iM3’ to get some similar design cues as the Neue Klasse concept, plus some sporty bits and performance-enhancing features.

The ICE-powered BMW M3 will live on for the next generation, featuring an improved S58 engine

Fortunately for petrolheads, the all-electric BMW ‘iM3’ won’t outright replace its ICE counterpart, with BMW also developing the next-gen ICE-powered M3 model, said to feature a revised version of the current S58 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline-6 mill in order to meet the stringent Euro 7 emission standards.

Both the i4 EV (left) and G20-gen 3 Series (right) will be replaced by an all-electric model based on the Vision Neue Klasse concept

Aside from the ‘iM3’ performance EV saloon, BMW has a pretty big plan in-store for the Neue Klasse platform, with the Bavarian marque set to replace both the current-gen i4 EV and G20-gen 3 Series with a new all-electric model based on the Vision Neue Klasse concept. More importantly, it won’t be too long before we get to see this next-gen 3 Series electric successor, with its production poised to take place as early as 2025.