Electric BMW M3 with Neue Klasse architecture to land with up to 1,000 hp and AWD after i3 and iX3 SUV

BMW's M-series performance sedans and sports cars are some of the most well-received vehicles to date, and the M3 has generated a particularly loyal following thanks to its agility and fun factor. According to comments from BMW's product development head, Frank Weber, at a round-table event attended by Australian publication CarSales, the next M3 will launch in 2027 with a fully-electric drive train.

As part of the Neue Klasse platform, the new M3 will have a maximum theoretical output of 1,000 hp, and could ride on a quad-motor AWD drivetrain.

Referring to the Neue Klasse platform, Weber notes that it “…was designed for four independently operating electric machines [motors] up to one megaWatt...and then you have some settings where you can go deeper into something that is more and more rear-wheel drive biassed with the control possibilities that you have with electric machines."

As such, it's fair to expect the electric M3 to launch with something similar to the Drift Analyser and a rear-wheel-biased drive mode. Increasing weight has been a common complaint from M-car fans in recent years, and news of an AWD electric drivetrain may exacerbate these concerns.

That said, the low centre of gravity and central weight distribution typical of electric vehicles may just swing things in the favour of the electric M3. The M3 is expected to launch a year after its more pedestrian i3 progenitor and two years after the electric iX3 SUV, perhaps serving as an indication of BMW's and the car industry's priorities.

Buy a copy of BMW M3: The Complete Story Hardcover on Amazon.