BMW unveiled the M Concept Neue Klasse in June and it’s quickly inching closer to production. That’s clear from the latest spy photos, which show the high-performance EV undergoing testing at the Nürburgring.

Dressed in familiar black and white camouflage, the model follows in the footsteps of the standard i3. Despite the similarities, we can see the M variant will adopt a unique front bumper with a pronounced air intake. The latter features a triangular center support as well as horizontal fins.

More: BMW’s New Electric M3 Proves The Concept Wasn’t Kidding

We can also see a pronounced front lip and familiar headlights. Bulky cladding at the outside edges suggests the production model could mimic the concept and sport stacked fog lights instead of the typical air curtains. Elsewhere, there’s a ventilated hood and a double bubble roof.

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The profile carries over virtually untouched, but the model rides on lightweight wheels that are backed up by a high-performance braking system with bronze calipers. The ride height has also been reduced and this is undoubtedly the result of a sport-tuned suspension.

Moving around back, the trunk has been equipped with a relatively subtle spoiler. They’re accompanied by a unique bumper and a sizable diffuser. The latter features air channels on the sides and center as well as small slots between it and the bumper. Speaking of the latter, the bumper appears to have four square reflectors like the concept.

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Spy photographers didn’t get a good look inside, but the cabin should closely echo the i3. This means we can expect Panoramic iDrive as well as a 17.9-inch infotainment system. We also wouldn’t be surprised to find an M steering wheel, sport seats, and special touches.

The model will slot above the i3 50 xDrive, which has a dual motor all-wheel drive system producing 463 hp (345 kW / 469 PS) and 476 lb-ft (645 Nm) of torque. They’re powered by a 108.7 kWh battery pack, which delivers an EPA-estimated range of 440 miles (708 km). The model also has an 800-volt architecture, which allows for an impressive 400 kW DC fast charging capability.

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The M3 EV will improve on those numbers thanks to a quad motor powertrain that “elevates driving experience and racetrack capability to a new level.” BMW has been coy on numbers, but rumors have suggested anywhere from around 691 hp (515 kW / 700 PS) to 986 hp (735 kW / 1,000 PS). For comparison, the Mercedes-AMG C-Class Electric is expected to have approximately 789 hp (588 kW / 800 PS).

While the final numbers are a mystery, BMW has already suggested the car won’t be called the i3 M. Instead, the model will simply be known as the ‘Electric M3’ or ‘M3 EV’ as the company wants customers to know this is a ‘real’ M3 and not just an electric pretender.

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BMW‘s electric M3 is gradually stepping out of the shadows. The naming question is already settled, with M boss Frank van Meel confirming at Goodwood that the car drops the i prefix and simply carries the M3 badge. Now fresh spy shots from the Nürburgring show the high-performance EV wearing less camouflage than before, giving a clearer look at the production model BMW hopes will convince enthusiasts that an M car doesn’t need exhausts to be exhilarating.

Also: BMW’s New Gas M3 Loses Its Grille But Keeps Its Six, And Maybe The Clutch Too

The latest prototype appears heavily influenced by the recently revealed M Concept Neue Klasse, which BMW showcased at Le Mans as a preview of its future electric performance models. While there’s still some disguise covering key details, the overall shape and many of the styling cues now look very close to what buyers can expect when the car finally reaches showrooms.

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Compared to a regular i3 sedan, this prototype looks considerably more aggressive. The swollen wheel arches remain one of the most obvious giveaways, while the car also appears to feature a wider track, rear diffuser and trunk lid spoiler, and a hood vent that wasn’t visible on previous prototypes, but did appear on the concept.

Under the skin, BMW is expected to fit a quad-motor powertrain with one electric motor driving each wheel. While the company hasn’t confirmed output figures, reports continue to suggest the electric M3 could produce more than 700 hp (710 PS), with up to 1,000 hp (1,014 PS) possible on hardcore models later.

The real challenge, however, isn’t straight-line speed. Plenty of EVs can deliver shocking acceleration. What BMW’s engineers need to prove is that this car can deliver the balance, precision and adjustability that have defined generations of M3s. That’s where the four-motor setup could become a genuine advantage, allowing far more precise torque distribution than a conventional all-wheel-drive system.

More Power Than Its Combustion M3 Brother

Fortunately for traditionalists, the electric model won’t replace the combustion-powered M3. BMW is expected to offer both cars simultaneously, with the gasoline version continuing to fly the flag for six-cylinder performance while the EV pushes the brand into new territory. It’s unlikely that the visually similar petrol M3 will make anywhere near as much power as the electric one, though.

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With camouflage steadily disappearing and testing activity ramping up, it looks increasingly likely that we’ll see the finished product sooner rather than later. Whether diehard M fans embrace it is another matter entirely.

Related: The 10-Foot-Wide M3 Isn’t Photoshopped, But It Isn’t A BMW Either

Check out the gallery below showing the M Concept Neue Klasse to see how the production M3 EV could look when the swirly camo comes off.

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BMW has finally settled one of the biggest questions surrounding its upcoming electric performance sedan. Contrary to some speculation, the brand’s first battery-powered M3 won’t wear an iM3 badge. Instead, it’ll simply be called M3.

The decision was confirmed by BMW M boss Frank van Meel during the Goodwood Festival of Speed, according to Auto Express. By keeping the legendary nameplate, BMW is signaling that its electric performance sedan isn’t being positioned as a separate branch of the family. Instead, it’ll sit alongside the next-generation combustion-powered M3 as an equal successor to the badge’s long history.

Related: BMW’s New M350 Wears i3 Looks Over A Straight-Six That Could Clear 400 HP

EVs often arrive with distinct names to help separate them from their combustion counterparts. And if the electric M3 adopted the naming logic applied to electric versions of the non-M 3-series, 5-series and countless other BMWs, it could have been called iM3.

BMW, however, appears confident that what defines an M3 goes beyond its power source. The electric model is expected to be the most powerful M3 ever produced. BMW’s new four-motor drivetrain architecture can in theory support outputs approaching 1,341 hp (1,360 PS / 1 MW), though production versions are expected to generate considerably less. But even a modest output like 700 hp (710 PS / 522 kW) for the base car would see it still comfortably eclipse every previous M3.

Not Just About The Power

The M engineers appear focused on more than headline figures, anyway. Christian Karg, head of vehicle dynamics for BMW Group, told Auto Express that “It’s not about the horsepower. That’s a part of the game, but the preciseness of M cars, that’s what’s unique.”

The upcoming sedan’s styling has already been previewed by the dramatic M Concept Neue Klasse (see gallery above), that debuted at Le Mans in June, and was wheeled out again this month for an appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Yellow DRLs An M Telltale?

The concept builds on the chiselled look of the stock i3 sedan revealed last year and on sale this fall. It’s lower than the i3, has much wider fenders, a hood vent that has also been spied on M3 prototypes (see below), yellow DRLs that could become an M hallmark, and a split rear trunk-lid spoiler and huge diffuser.

While production details will inevitably be toned down, the show car offers a strong indication of where BMW M3 design is heading, for both the electric and combustion cars. Because the good news for traditionalists is that a new gasoline-slurping M3 powered by a mild-hybrid six-cylinder engine is also in development. Though the ICE car will use an updated CLAR platform and the EV rides on BMW’s Neue Klasse architecture, they will look almost identical.

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