The future electric BMW M3 is revealed — but will there still be a place for it?

Just as the automotive world was beginning to recover from the fallout of the reveal of the electric Ferrari Luce, BMW unveiled its own future electric effort ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Yes, this is the BMW M Concept Neue Klasse, but it is more commonly seen as the potential future BMW M3 — and an electric one at that.

BMW says its electric M3’s impact will be twofold, showcasing ‘the new BMW M design language‘ as well as setting ‘a clear signal for the brand’s all-electric future’. But will there still be a place for it by the time it hits showrooms?

Many brands, including Porsche, Ford and Bentley, are slowing down, scaling back and even cancelling their future electric plans, after previously betting the house on an all-electric future. The overwhelming reason seems to hinge on a lack of demand from potential customers due to higher upfront purchase costs, concerns over vehicle depreciation and a lack of infrastructure. On the manufacturer’s side, higher production costs and changes to government subsidies are causing brands to take a step back and assess their next moves, whether that be a shift towards hybrid models or even back to ICE engines entirely.

Exterior

While the concept may not have turned out as wacky as its design sketches, the finished result still immediately grabs your attention and for good reason too.

It has a different shape and a more aggressive look compared to previous M3s, thanks to a wide body kit. At the front, the signature Neue Klasse headlights and grille are combined into one single element, while new three-dimensional Track Lights are located in the outer sections of the front.

These are matched at the rear, where the standout feature is a large ducktail design spoiler to improve aerodynamics.

As for the colour, BMW has chosen to showcase the concept in a new Monza Red metallic paint finish to give it a motorsport and BMW M feel.

Interior

Inside, BMW has fitted four newly developed Bathurst Blue and Berry Red coloured bucket seats, upholstered in a two-tone Merino leather finish. This is complemented by sporty red five-point seatbelts.

The interior is very much stripped down, with all the focus of the car being on the driving experience. That’s not to say it isn’t high quality, and BMW has used black nubuck leather on the steering wheel, door panels and roll bar for the first time on an M vehicle. Up front, there’s a floating dashboard finished in black knit material and featuring M-specific hexagonal backlighting.

And in case you forget, little touches like red accents on the M gear selector, shift paddles and digital displays remind you of its M status.

Powertrain

So how about that electric drivetrain? It is based on the Neue Klasse’s Gen6 technology and developed for all electric BMW M vehicles. There are four electric motors, combined with the central control software BMW M Dynamic Performance Control in the high-performance computer Heart of Joy, as well as a 100kWh battery with 800-volt charging. Rumours suggest this equates to 1,000bhp of output, double the amount achieved by the current straight six M3.

In terms of range, for added context, the BMW i3 uses a 108.7kWh battery, which gives it up to 599 miles fully charged. Could the electric M3 be looking at a similar figure? Time will tell on that one.

The battery itself is located within the floor, creating a higher than usual sitting position for driver and passengers, and integrated with both the front and rear axles for better driving dynamics.

Price & Release Date

Officially, BMW has yet to tell us either of these bits of information, but all signs suggest a release date towards the end of 2026 or start of 2027, and a price well north of £100,000.

words: Mike Booth
pictures: BMW (UK) Ltd