BMW M Concept Neue Klasse Previews Upcoming Electric M3

As BMW continues to unveil its Neue Klasse family of pure electric vehicles (EVs), it was inevitable that BMW’s M performance division would begin working on these EVs as well. Expectedly, the first model to get the M treatment is the electric 3 Series called the i3, and that’s exactly what the BMW M Concept Neue Klasse previews.

Using the i3 as a basis, what we’re seeing here is the future production version of what we presume would be called the iM3 essentially the electric version of the M3. Up front, the BMW M Concept Neue Klasse features the signature design of the fully electric Neue Klasse models, namely the wide, enclosed grille. Only this time, the LED daytime running lights are in yellow, which in recent years has become the lighting signature of the brand’s M models.

The BMW M Concept Neue Klasse also gets wider lower air intakes, whose trimaran-style design is inspired by the form of high-speed sailing boats. On the sides of those intakes are dual LED lights, which BMW calls Track Lights, and you can expect them in future M models moving forward. There are additional air outlets on the V-shaped hood, all designed to cool the quad-motor electric drivetrain.

At the sides, the BMW M Concept Neue Klasse has wider fenders to accommodate the wider track, while the rear end also gets the trimaran-style design of the front bumpers, along with the Track Lights. Lastly, this may be a track monster, but the roof, front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser, and hood scoop are made of natural fiber. See, it’s a track monster with an eco-friendly heart.

As for the interior, it pretty much mirrors what we already see with the production i3, from the large trapezoidal infotainment with the Panoramic iDrive screen at the base of the windshield. But of course, it wouldn’t be an M car if it didn’t have any of the materials, color choices, and necessary chassis improvements.

One of those is a roll cage, which is wrapped in nubuck leather and is located just behind the front bucket seats. Those bucket seats, in which there are also two at the rear, are made out of Merino leather with five-point seat belts. The BMW M Concept Neue Klasse also has a more structured and slimmer center console area, which contains unique switches and knobs to make the interior feel sportier. These include red accents on the M gear selector, the shift paddles, and the M drive modes.

The BMW M Concept Neue Klasse is powered by the BMW M eDrive quad-motor system. This is based on the Gen6 eDrive system of the current Neue Klasse EVs. Since it’s still a pre-production concept, the power output has not yet been revealed, but rumors suggest that the future electric M3 will get around 1,000 horsepower.

All of that power is managed by the BMW M Dynamic Performance Control System, which is a subsystem of BMW’s proprietary Heart of Joy vehicle dynamics control system. This takes care of the steering, throttle delivery on each wheel, and, if fitted, the adaptive dampers, all in the name of making the vehicle perform exactly as the driver intended.

Finally, the M Concept Neue Klasse also uses an 800-volt architecture, which means fast charging speeds and vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities. The production electric M3 is also getting a battery pack with more than 100 kWh for both a long driving range and sustained performance through multiple laps.

BMW M has not yet revealed when the electric M3 will debut in production form, but we predict a 2027 release. Don’t fret if you prefer the noise of an inline-six, because the 3 Series and M3 are both getting gas-powered versions for their next-generation models. You can also expect these models to wear Neue Klasse styling.