Electric BMW M3 Will Be A Wagon
Key Takeaways
- Electric BMW M3 Touring reportedly following electric M3.
- First-ever electric M3 to enter production in H2 2027.
- BMW is yet to confirm powertrain details, but dual- and quad-motor options are likely.
We’ve known for a long time that the possibility of an all-electric BMW M3 is a very real one, made more so by a trademark application for the name iM3. Now, a post by reliable Bimmerpost forum user ynguldyn reveals the expected production date of the new EV and adds that it will be joined by an electric M3 Touring station wagon. Codenamed ZA0, the electric M3 may debut as early as 2026, with the start of production likely to occur in the second half of 2027, which would be a year after the NA0 i3 sedan (electric 3 Series) enters production. For the record, the i3 wagon is codenamed NA1 and the electric M3 wagon (expected to arrive a year later than the sedan) is known internally as ZA1.
2025 BMW M3 Sedan
- Base MSRP
- $76,000
- Base Trim Engine
- 3.0L Twin-Turbo Inline-6 Gas
- Base Trim Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Transmission
- 6-Speed Manual
- Base Trim Horsepower
- 473 hp
- Base Trim Torque
- 406 lb-ft
No Official Confirmation Yet
BMW has yet to disclose anything about its electric M3 in an official capacity, but executives have been giving us hints of what to expect, saying that although as much as 1,340 horsepower will be possible using the new “Heart of Joy” control unit for the Neue Klasse architecture (combining powertrain software and driving dynamics systems into a single system), the most important characteristic is how the car handles and feels. It must still be recognizable from behind the steering wheel as an M car.
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“The next M3, even if it will be electric, has to be better than the current one, and the current one is currently leading the pack. So it’s quite a challenge.”
– Frank van Meel, BMW M CEO.
At the end of 2022, BMW M CEO Frank van Meel outlined what Munich wants from the electric M3, and to make it shine despite its increased weight, BMW has opted to develop a quad-motor powertrain. With this, BMW will be able to offer a rear-wheel-drive setup for the keen driver and and AWD version for the individual who wants outright performance bragging rights.
Resurgent Interest In Wagons
All but extinct on today’s market, the performance-focused station wagon is slowly making a comeback, and BMW is leading the charge. The first M3 Touring production car is thrilling Bimmer fanatics in other markets, and later this year, the BMW M5 will be available in wagon form, both abroad and here on American soil. With BMW apparently looking to offer its first-ever electric M car in Touring form, it’s clear that buyers are looking for a mix of practicality and sportiness that doesn’t come in the shape of an SUV, and a fast wagon is the ideal solution. Hopefully, other automakers will reenter this market again soon.
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Source:
Bimmerpost
