BMW’s menacing new EV concept offers an early look at the first electric M3 [Images]
![BMW’s menacing new EV concept offers an early look at the first electric M3 [Images]](https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/BMW-M-Concept-EV-i3.jpeg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1400)
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- BMW unveiled the M Concept Neue Klasse at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Friday, previewing the all-electric M3 expected to launch in 2027 and carry the i3 M nameplate.
- The concept's drivetrain uses four electric motors — one per wheel — each controlled by M-specific software built on the Neue Klasse "Heart of Joy" ECU platform and BMW M Dynamic Performance Control.
- The EV runs on an 800-volt architecture paired with a 100+ kWh high-voltage battery, which BMW said creates conditions for long range, though specific range and power figures were not disclosed.
- BMW described the drive units as "the most powerful drives BMW M has ever used," though the company withheld concrete output, acceleration, or range numbers.
- The exterior fuses Neue Klasse headlamps and kidney grille into a single unit, adds a trimaran-style bumper for aerodynamics, 3D Track Lights, and a large rear ducktail spoiler.
- The cabin features four bucket seats, natural-fiber materials, black nubuck leather on the steering wheel and door panels, hexagonal dashboard backlighting, and red accents on the M gear selector and shift paddles.
Why it matters: BMW M's first standalone electric performance car is now dated to 2027, and the company calls its quad-motor setup 'the most powerful drives BMW M has ever used' — a benchmark claim the production i3 M will be measured against the moment it ships. With no power or range figures released, the concept functions as a two-year positioning play in an electric performance segment where no rival has yet claimed the top spot.
