BMW M3 EV Set to Debut in 2027 – Quad-Motor EV with Simulated Gears

BMW’s first electric M car will be a quad-motor M3 EV based on the upcoming i3 Neue Klasse, set to debut in 2027.

Following its initial teaser many moons ago, BMW has confirmed the launch of its first-ever electric M car will take place in 2027. Unofficially dubbed the M3 EV, this all-electric performance saloon will feature a quad-motor setup with simulated gears, built based on the upcoming i3 Neue Klasse electric sedan.

We’ll start with the headline-grabbing quad-motor setup, where the new M3 EV will adopt BMW’s latest sixth-gen electric drive unit that was previously introduced in its first Neue Klasse-based model, the new BMW iX3. Instead of two, the M3 EV will get four of these sixth-gen motors, each of which is tasked to drive a single wheel.

Although the Bavarian automaker refrains from sharing with us some juicy figures, we can expect the new M3 EV to possibly be the most potent M car ever made. For reference, the dual-motor iX3 50 xDrive boasts a total system output of 469 hp and 645 Nm, so it is not too far-fetched for the M3 EV to double said output figures.

What’s also unique for the new M3 EV’s quad-motor setup is that the motors are arranged in parallel, with each of the two motors incorporating an inverter to allow for the precise control of power and torque at each wheel. BMW claims this setup allows the new M3 EV to deliver a driving experience “that has never been achieved before.”

Tasked with juicing up these four motors is a sizable 100 kWh battery pack using BMW’s latest cylindrical cells. Again, no maximum driving ranges were given, but the automaker did note that the battery pack has been designed to withstand the extreme use and abuse on racetracks. With its sizable capacity and four motors, BMW has managed to offset the weight toll in said components by including more lightweight natural fibre components on the new M3 EV.

If a quad-motor EV didn’t sound that exciting for BMW M fans, the automaker has also given future electric M Neue Klasse models, including this upcoming M3 EV, a simulated gear shift system with a special soundscape a la Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. There will also be a dedicated rear-wheel drive (RWD) mode for extra fun, while at the same time improving the EV’s efficiency and boosting its maximum driving range.

The centrepiece to the new M3 EV will be the 'Heart of Joy’ high-performance control unit from the BMW Vision Driving Experience concept, which combines all of the driving experience controls for faster and more intuitive reactions.

As mentioned earlier, the new BMW M3 EV is slated to make its official debut in 2027, with its non-M twin, the BMW i3 Neue Klasse, set to debut first later this year. Fret not, the Bavarian automaker previously insisted that the new M3 EV won’t outright replace the outgoing ICE version, as a new petrol-powered M3 is also in the works, featuring an updated version of the B58 straight-six engine.