BMW M3 Electric Begins to Appear, Its Power Can Reach 1,000 Bhp

BMW gives an early glimpse of the future of the M3 through the M Concept Neue Klasse, an aggressive concept car introduced at the Le Mans 24 Hours. This concept marks a new direction for BMW M's performance division.

Citing Autocar, Saturday, June 13, the new generation M3 will be based on the i3 sedan and use the Gen6 platform. BMW will offer it in two options: a straight-six engine and electric power.

However, the M version is not just an i3 that is made more aggressive. This car will get special technical and design concepts. The M Concept Neue Klasse is said to give strong clues to the final shape of the first M electric car.

BMW M design head Oliver Heilmer said this new design language is made more assertive and powerful. BMW wants the new generation of M cars to look different from regular models than the current generation.

"At BMW M, form always follows function," said Heilmer. "Every detail serves performance.

"The appearance of this concept is striking. There is a V-shaped hood, a large air hole for a high-powered electric drive system, a shark nose grille or "shark nose" reminiscent of the BMW 3.0 CSL and 635 CSi, special M mirrors, wide rear fenders, and aerodynamic elements from natural fibers.

The front features a trimaran-style bumper design, inspired by a fast sailboat with three main parts. In the back, BMW added a ducktail wing, a small spoiler resembling a duck's tail, to increase downforce and aerodynamic efficiency.

The yellow headlights are also taken from the racing world, including the M Hybrid V8 LMDh race car in the World Endurance Championship. BMW said the yellow lights would be a hallmark of future M cars.

The racing feel continues to the cabin. The interior is made simpler and focuses on the driver. This concept uses four bucket seats, namely a racing model seat that hugs the body more strongly, wrapped in M's signature merino leather and red belts.

For the electric version, BMW M prepares a four-motor system, one motor for each wheel. This system allows the power to be regulated very precisely to each wheel.

The steering uses the new Heart of Joy unit. This system regulates the distribution of torque, i.e. the torsional force that drives the car to move, from front to back and left to right. This system also maximizes the energy recovered when the car slows down.

Like the standard i3 and iX3, the concept uses an 800V charging architecture, a high-voltage system that allows for faster charging, and a battery of more than 100 kWh with BMW's new cylindrical cells.

BMW has not released official performance figures. However, information collected by Autocar says the electric M3 can produce around 1,000 bhp. BHP is a unit of engine power. The figure is roughly twice that of the current six-cylinder M3.

Even so, BMW M insists that its performance electric car does not just chase straight acceleration. BMW M sales boss Sylvia Neubauer told Autocar that the priority remains to maintain the M DNA. A car that is alive, easy to control, and gives a sense of trust between the driver, the car, and the road.