The world didn’t implode when BMW launched a front-wheel-drive minivan a decade ago. The apocalypse also didn’t come when the 3 Series got a three-cylinder engine. We’re fairly certain we’ll survive the day when the M division rolls out its first production model without a combustion engine. Until the inevitable happens, a new spy video gives us a taste of what to expect.
Although BMW has been selling electric M Performance cars for about four years, there still hasn’t been a full-fat M EV. Footage from Tenerife in Spain serves as an unofficial preview of the two models set to lead M’s electric assault. The man with the camera from YouTube’s NCars channel spotted a fleet of camouflaged prototypes, some of which appeared to be the silent M3 and X3 M.
The two cars are believed to skip the “i” branding, perhaps BMW’s way of signaling they’re M cars first and electric second. Still, Munich will have to find a way to distinguish the M3 EV from its gasoline-fueled counterpart. Another sports sedan with an inline-six engine has already been confirmed, and it’s highly unlikely that BMW will give the combustion and electric versions the same name. The German luxury brand won’t face this issue when differentiating X3 M flavors simply because no new gas-powered generation is planned.
Both the M3 and X3 M prototypes appear to have production bodies hidden beneath additional camouflage to deceive the untrained eye. The test cars also seem to have their final headlight designs, but only the SUV has production taillights, carried over from the regular iX3. Their rear bumpers protrude due to ungainly layers of disguise, leaving us to wonder why BMW decided to bulk up the back end.
If you’re curious about wheel and tire sizing, the M3 EV was sitting on 20-inch rear alloys wrapped in 295/35 ZR20 rubber. The X3 M seemed to have 21-inch front wheels with 275/35 ZR21 tires. Both featured drilled brake rotors front and rear. Expect the crossover to send power to all four wheels, while the sedan will likely be rear-wheel drive, at least initially.
Although output figures aren’t available yet, it’s reasonable to assume both models will offer far more than the 470 hp in the iX3 50 xDrive. Nearly 700 hp doesn’t sound unrealistic, especially since BMW will first need to slot an M Performance version between the standard models and the full M variants.
Rumor has it the iX3 M60 will deliver roughly 620 hp, so the X3 M should pack even more punch. Given that the all-wheel-drive crossover will use more motors than the rear-driven sedan, it’s likely to eclipse the electric M3 in power.
Some prototypes show the next-generation 3 Series Sedan with combustion engines. Despite the camouflage, it’s clear that the gasoline and diesel test vehicles bear a strong resemblance to the electric M3. BMW has already announced that its future ICE and EV models will share the same Neue Klasse design language, despite being based on different platforms. Indeed, the electric M3 won’t use the same CLAR architecture as the six-cylinder M3.
One test car has quad exhaust tips, but don’t call it an M3. It’s the future M Performance version, reportedly rebranded from M340i to M350. It will keep its six cylinders and is expected to produce more than 400 hp from an updated “B58” engine. The full-fat M3 will retain the “S58” engine, likely with a mild-hybrid setup, over 500 horses, and could be exclusively paired with an automatic transmission and xDrive.
Among all the prototypes captured, the 3 Series is coming first. It’ll be launched next year, shortly after the i3 sedan. The electric M3 and X3 M are rumored to arrive in 2027, with the sedan expected to be first. As for the gas-powered M3 mentioned earlier, it’s slated for a 2028 debut, or so we’ve heard.
