With the release of its all-electric M3, BMW’s M division will embark on a brave new future and try to convince gearheads it’s possible to have a fun and engaging EV. While it’ll be some time before anyone gets behind the wheel of this promising new model, recent spy photos offer a surprisingly detailed glimpse at what’s to come. So far, things are looking encouraging.

Read: This BMW M3 May Be The Heaviest Yet But Also The Quickest Ever

Visually, the electric M3 will mark one of the first entries in BMW’s Neue Klasse lineup, bringing with it a noticeably different design language compared to today’s M3. One of the biggest changes is at the front. The oversized and much criticized kidney grilles from the six-cylinder version appear to be on the way out.

A New Take on the Front End

Based on prototype sightings, these renderings from Kolesa suggest the electric M3, possibly named the iM3, will feature sharp headlights integrated cleanly into slim, illuminated kidney grilles. It looks excellent, which isn’t a word we’re used to using when it comes to modern BMW designs. The publication has also imagined the new sports sedan with a large secondary lower grille finished in black, adding to the aggressive looks.

The same testers also hint that the side profile of the new model will differ significantly from the G80 M3, drawing more from the design of the latest 5-Series. This will include door handles that sit flush with the bodywork and simpler lines. Then there’s the rear.

The taillights of the new model should be similar to those from the recent Vision Driving Experience demonstrator, but if these renders prove accurate, they’ll be slightly smaller and slimmer. A sculpted bumper with a pronounced diffuser gives the rear a more commanding and purposeful appearance.

Powertrain Possibilities

BMW hasn’t shared official specs for the iM3 just yet, but all signs point to a quad-motor layout. While the theoretical output of this setup could reach a staggering 1,341 horsepower, equivalent to one Megawatt, the Germans are expected to dial it back to somewhere in the range of 700 to 800 horsepower for production. Even at those numbers, it would make this the most powerful M3 to date, and possibly the quickest as well.

The electric era is coming for just about every corner of the car world, and BMW’s iconic M3 lineup is no exception. An all-electric version of the high-performance sedan is on its way, marking a significant step for BMW as it enters the Neue Klasse generation.

This new model will be sold alongside the familiar gas-powered M3, and while it may have a tough time delivering the same visceral thrills, BMW M seems like the right team to take on the challenge of making an EV that’s genuinely engaging to drive.

Read: BMW’s Electric Super Sedan Could Arrive Sooner Than You Think

Numerous electric M3 prototypes are currently making the rounds across Europe, and this particular one was recently spotted near BMW’s facility at the Nurburgring Nordschleife. Seeing an M3 prototype charging is a little unsettling for purists – a bit like discovering your favorite bouncer knits in his spare time. Good for him, sure, but it does throw off the mental image.

This prototype, fully cloaked in camouflage, appears to lack the bulky body cladding seen on earlier test cars, giving us a much clearer look at the near-production-spec bodywork.

The shape of the nose is vastly different than the current M3 and reflective of BMW’s Neue Klasse design, something that’ll soon spread throughout the brand’s entire range of cars. There is a set of relatively small headlights connected seamlessly to blacked-out kidney grilles. This prototype also has a secondary grille lower down on the bumper for additional cooling.

SHProshots

It’s the fenders of the electric M3, or the i3M as BMW might end up naming it, that stand out the most. They’re impressively wide, giving the car a broad, aggressive stance. The rear arches are especially muscular, and paired with the shape of the temporary taillights, they bring to mind the current BMW M5 in both proportion and attitude.

The Juicy Details

This tester also has a set of wheels that should make the production model. These wheels are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport tires and sit over a set of beefy, cross-drilled steel brakes. Spy shots from last month indicated that the electric M3 will likely weigh at least 465 kg (1,025 lbs) more than the current gas-powered model, so we wouldn’t be surprised if carbon ceramic brakes were available as an option, as they are on the current M3 and M4.

Powertrain details remain a bit of a mystery at this stage. The prevailing expectation is that the iM3 will feature four electric motors delivering a combined output of at least 700 hp. Interestingly, BMW has suggested that the setup could be pushed to over 1,300 hp, though it’s unclear whether that level of performance will make it to production.

Even at the lower estimate, the iM3 would be in the same league as the upcoming M5 and comfortably ahead of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N, which produces 641 hp. In all likelihood, it will end up being the quickest production car ever to wear an M3 badge.

SHProshots

Electric or not, the M3 still matters, especially when BMW decides to shake things up. Car enthusiasts haven’t exactly been begging for an all-electric version of the M3, but that hasn’t stopped BMW from building one anyway.

The upcoming EV, currently referred to as the iM3, will be sold alongside the combustion-powered version of the sports sedan. Over the past year, it’s been spotted undergoing testing in multiple locations around the globe. Now, two new prototypes have been caught by our spy photographers, giving us a closer look at some previously unseen details.

Sharp Looks, Familiar Details

One of the camouflaged test cars appears to be wearing production-ready fender flares for the first time. These widened arches are a subtle but important detail, giving the car a broader, more aggressive stance that mirrors the current G80 M3’s proportions. Visually, they make a strong first impression.

Read: BMW’s Electric Super Sedan Could Arrive Sooner Than You Think

This same prototype is also equipped with a set of eye-catching black wheels featuring an intricate spoke design, similar to those of the G80 and the G82 M3. As we’ve seen in the past, it also has a Neue Klasse-inspired front fascia with sleek headlights that flow gracefully into the small faux kidney grilles. There are no coffin grilles in sight.

Similarly, the rear end is radically different than the current six-cylinder model, and thankfully, does not appear as short and stumpy as the weird rear of BMW’s recently unveiled Vision Driving Experience Concept.

Heavyweight Status Confirmed

A second prototype was also spotted, this time fitted with a set of 20-inch Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tires, sized at 295/35. More interestingly, our photographers also managed to capture a shot of the door badge displaying the car’s VIN and preliminary weight figures.

Four numbers were listed: 2,675 kg (5,897 lbs), 4,475 kg (9,865 lbs), 1,250 kg (2,756 lbs), and 1,475 kg (3,252 lbs). The first figure, 2,675 kg (5,897 lbs), appears to represent the gross vehicle weight or the total allowable weight of the car, including its own mass, passengers, cargo, and fluids. The second figure, 4,475 kg (9,865 lbs), likely refers to the gross combined weight when towing a trailer. The final two numbers specify the maximum axle loads: 1,250 kg (2,756 lbs) at the front and 1,475 kg (3,252 lbs) at the rear.

The number that stands out is the preliminary gross weight of 2,675 kg (5,897 lbs), and how that stacks up against the current ICE-powered M3 Sedan. According to BMW’s spec sheet, the base M3 has a curb weight of 1,780 kg (3,924 lbs) and a maximum permissible weight (presumably equivalent to gross weight) of 2,210 kg (4,872 lbs).

More: The 2025 BMW M5 Weighs 1,000 Lbs More Than Its Predecessor, Is Heavier Than Many F-150s!

That would make the electric M3 prototype at least 465 kg (1,025 lbs) heavier than its gas-powered counterpart, but somewhat surprisingly, possibly lighter than the ICE M5, which has a maximum permissible weight of 2,950 kg (6,504 lbs) and a curb weight of 2,510 kg (5,534 lbs).

However, it’s worth pointing out that the ICE model’s gross weight includes a full tank of fuel and various fluids not needed in an EV. For reference, the ICE M3 also has maximum axle load ratings of 1,080 kg (2,381 lbs) at the front and 1,180 kg (2,601 lbs) at the rear.

The interior of this car was also snapped. However, it has been fitted with several temporary parts, including two displays that won’t make it to the production model. Perhaps the only part visible on this prototype that could make it to production is the intriguing steering wheel.

BMW hasn’t officially announced a launch date, but according to a report, production is expected to begin in March 2027 and continue through October 2034. For now, only a sedan is mentioned, though rumors of a Touring version continue to circulate.

Baldauf

BMW’s upcoming all-electric 3-Series, known as the i3 (no relation to the oddball 2013 hatchback of the same name), is set to arrive next year. New insider information hints that the lineup will be broader than expected, with several variants in the pipeline. Among them is the flagship iM3, a high-performance electric M3 that could pack over 700 horsepower.

While some automakers have been forced to rethink their EV strategy, BMW is going all-in. Starting with the iM3, it will reportedly begin production in March 2027, continuing through October 2034. This timeline comes from BimmerPost user ‘ynguldyn‘, a well-known BMW insider with a solid track record for accurate leaks.

Unlike the current gas-powered M3, which is offered in several different guises, including the base model, the M3 Performance, the first-ever M3 Touring, and the M3 CS, just a single version of the iM3 has been confirmed at this stage.

Read: BMW Vision Vehicle Is Our Best Look Yet At The iM3 Neue Klasse

Unfortunately, powertrain details remain a mystery and may not be known until a few months the car is launched. It’s been suggested that it could have as many as four electric motors, allowing for the use of complex torque vectoring.

The iM3 will also be one of BMW’s first production models to use its new natural fiber material. Announced last week, the natural fiber composite has been developed alongside a Swiss firm and is derived from flax seeds. It’s designed to be just as strong as carbon fiber, but with 40% fewer CO2 emissions required for its manufacture. It could be used on the car’s bucket seats and other trims. There will also be a head-up display as standard and a panoramic sunroof.

What About The Non-M i3s?

Beyond the iM3, the standard i3 lineup is expected to enter production in July 2026, running alongside the flagship until October 2034. Several versions are reportedly on the table, including i3 20, 40, 40 xDrive, 50, 50 xDrive, and the M60 xDrive. The M60 model is scheduled to arrive in March 2027.

Technical specifications remain under wraps, but key features could include similar multi-function seats from the 5-Series, a panoramic glass sunroof as standard, optional highway driving assistant, and a choice of 19-, 20-, and 21-inch wheels. The M60 xDrive will also sport an adaptive M suspension, M brakes, an M steering wheel, and other sporty features.