For years, we have heard rumors claiming that the next-generation BMW M3 will go electrical. BMW hasn’t confirmed these stories, it merely defined that it hadn’t decided but, however a counter-rumor claims the game sedan might be provided with each electrical and piston energy.
Citing nameless sources, fanatic web site BMW Weblog writes that the Munich-based model will provide two variants of the next-generation M3: one will preserve the twin-turbocharged straight-six, and the opposite will change to electrical energy. Allegedly known as G84 internally, the gasoline-burning mannequin will make its debut in 2027 or 2028, in line with the report. It will likely be based mostly on the upcoming G50-generation 3 Collection, which ought to make its debut earlier than the top of 2026, and it’ll use an evolution of the current-generation automobile’s 3.0-liter straight-six engine.
On the battery-powered facet of the vary, BMW Weblog provides that the primary electrical M3 might be known as ZA0 internally and make its debut after 2027. Technical particulars such because the drivetrain’s configuration, driving vary, and horsepower have not been launched. One other attention-grabbing query that is up within the air is whether or not the 2 M3s will look alike. As of writing, BMW has a coverage of constructing electrical variants of gasoline-powered fashions reasonably than launching a standalone vary of EVs. The electrical 5 Collection is the i5, for instance, and the electrical 7 Collection is the i7. The iX is the one exception; there is not any gasoline-burning model of the SUV. There is not any phrase but on whether or not this method will proceed.
M3 followers who aren’t enthusiastic about an EV is perhaps in luck, however those that need to see the piston-powered M4 stay on might be disenchanted. The report claims that BMW is not planning a gasoline-burning successor to the mannequin, which is offered as a coupe and as a convertible. It provides that nothing is official at this stage, and that manufacturing plans can change up till 18 months earlier than the primary automobile rolls off the meeting line.
BMW hasn’t commented on the report, and it hasn’t revealed what the long run holds for the M3. Within the meantime, BMW Weblog realized that the present automobile (pictured) will obtain a spherical of updates later in 2024. The modifications ought to fall in keeping with these just lately made to the M4.