BMW advances toward the launch of an electric M3.
The concept includes four motors, all-wheel drive, and a custom battery exceeding 100 kWh.
The M Concept Neue Klasse also hints at a fresh design direction for upcoming production M vehicles.

BMW has delivered M-tuned electric vehicles since the i4 M50 reached buyers in 2021. The selection has since grown with additional performance EVs, yet a dedicated M model without a combustion engine has yet to appear. That situation will change before long with a true M-badged EV arriving at showrooms.

Ahead of the electric M3 launch next year, the company is displaying the model through a fresh concept at Le Mans this weekend. The BMW M Concept Neue Klasse functions as an electric M3 in everything but its official name. It appears less extreme than the earlier Vision Driving Experience concept, having been refined to align more closely with the production version.

Drawn from the newly launched 2027 i3 electric sedan, the M concept distinguishes itself through flared wheel arches and smart aerodynamic details. V-shaped vents on the hood pair with a prominent front splitter, while the rear incorporates a large diffuser. These components rely on natural-fiber composites, reflecting BMW gradual shift away from carbon fiber.

Photo by: BMW

Electric BMW M3 Exterior: Shark Nose And Ducktail Spoiler

Though forward-looking in appearance, the M Concept Neue Klasse also references earlier designs. BMW describes the front as a shark nose, while the rear honors heritage through a ducktail spoiler. Fresh wing mirrors extend from the body to create a racing-inspired profile.

In similar fashion, the electric sedan sits on center-lock wheels accented in Monza Red on the left to complement the body color. The center caps display blue rings on the right, linking to the M colors visible on the mirrors and rear roof edge.

Double-yellow lights will appear on production models as a reference to the M Hybrid V8 endurance racer competing at the Circuit de La Sarthe this weekend. Square lighting units stacked and extending from the bumpers contrast the smooth body curves.

The i3 pop-out door handles give way to winglets built into the beltline for front door access. BMW offers no details on rear entry, though the earlier Vision Driving Experience concept concealed the rear handle within the Hofmeister kink.

Photos by: BMW

Electric BMW M3 Interior: Four Bucket Seats And A Roll Bar

Just as the exterior suggests an i3 enhanced with M elements, the cabin stays recognizable while adopting a sportier feel. Rear bucket seats appear, with space reduced by a roll bar finished in black nubuck leather. This marks the first use of the material in an M model, and it extends to the door panels and steering wheel. The wheel comes from the new i3 yet adds extra M-specific red buttons.

BMW shares limited technical details but confirms four electric motors in the M Concept Neue Klasse. With one motor per wheel, all-wheel drive is expected, along with the option to disconnect the front motors for rear-wheel-drive driving.

The updated battery employs cylindrical cells with more than 100 kWh net capacity and is tailored for M vehicles to handle repeated high-power output. An 800-volt system supports rapid charging, consistent with the new i3 capability of up to 400 kilowatts.

2026 BMW M Concept Neue Klasse

Source: BMW

Motor1 Analysis: The M Concept Neue Klasse moves the electric M3 nearer to production. BMW plans to reveal the final model in 2027, and it will carry the M3 badge rather than iM3. This choice underscores the brand confidence that the electric sedan can uphold the nameplate reputation established since the E30 M3 in 1986.

Some images place the concept next to the original M3. BMW M will continue producing gasoline M3 models, with a new inline-six generation expected around 2028, about a year after the electric version.

Electric M models are arriving regardless. The electric M3 will lead to further variants, such as an X3 M possibly launching in 2027 as the top version of the new iX3.

Electric Or Gas?