All-electric BMW M3 spotted testing – here are all the design cues carried over from the concept

Back in June, BMW revealed the M Concept Neue Klasse – a design study which previews the next electric BMW M3.

Now, our spy photographers have sent us fresh shots of the production car being pushed to the limit on the Nurburgring – the fiercest racetrack in the world.

It’s wearing the thinnest disguise we’ve seen so far, revealing a handful of styling details carried over from the M Concept Neue Klasse. Here’s everything I’ve spotted.

Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.

New BMW M3 design

It may be covered up, but you can immediately see that the new BMW M3 looks very similar to the i3 saloon. The wide, flat kidney grilles are poking out of the wrap, and you can see the i3’s taillights shining through as well.

However, look a little closer and you’ll notice some aggressive styling tweaks which mark this out as the M3. Starting at the front, the bumper is deeper than the i3’s. You can also see the vertical bar down the middle, and if you look carefully you can see it goes up at an angle, just like on the M Concept Neue Klasse.

There’s also a bonnet scoop on this prototype, as there is on the concept car. It’s not really clear what this is for, but it’s likely to be a cooling duct to get heat out from under the bonnet as quickly as possible.

This test car is on 20-inch alloy wheels, although 21-inch rims are highly likely to be available on the production car. If you zoom right in on the rear wheel arches, you’ll also notice that they’re a fair bit wider than on the standard i3 as well.

The BMW M Concept Neue Klasse has a gigantic rear diffuser with two massive cutouts in the bumper. While the test car doesn’t look quite as extreme, you can see a similar diffuser with two vents above it.

Unfortunately, the massive, split ducktail spoiler from the concept car doesn’t appear to have been carried over. The production car has a much more subtle-looking lip at the rear. Shame.

New BMW M3 interior

The BMW M Concept Neue Klasse gives us a pretty realistic look at what the M3’s interior could look like. It has the same basic dashboard layout as the i3, with the massive panoramic display at the base of the windscreen and a strange-looking four-spoke steering wheel.

But then there are the racy add-ons. It has a taller centre console than the i3 with a red gear selector, and the massive carbon bucket seats look like they’re straight from the world of racing.

The production car is likely to be toned-down slightly – I’d hope to see some cup holders for starters – but a future M3 CS could be this stripped-back.

New BMW M3 engines, motors and performance

The M Concept Neue Klasse gives us an idea of what the new M3 will look like, but BMW is remaining tight-lipped about any specific performance stats. We do know one thing though: this will be the first ever electric M3.

It’ll have four electric motors, as well as a high-powered computer called the Heart of Joy to control them all. This will be able to shuffle power around between all four wheels in a fraction of a second to maximise the car’s agility.

The BMW VDX concept had 1,300hp, but that would be a bit excessive in an M3. It would be around 600hp more than an M5 after all. However, it could well have 800hp on tap.

If you’re shaking with anger at the thought of an electric M3, don’t panic just yet. BMW is working on making the current car’s 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged straight-six engine compliant with the latest emissions regulations.

Some tuning tweaks and new parts could easily push the petrol M3 from 550hp to around 640hp, which would put it in line with the new Audi RS5.

When can I buy the new BMW M3?

The new BMW M3 will be revealed later this year, with sales expected to start in 2027.

As for prices, don’t be surprised if the petrol version becomes the first M3 to top £100,000. The current car costs around £91,000, and with the Audi RS5 and Mercedes-AMG C63 both switching to plug-in hybrid engines, the new M3 could be the only non-plug-in performance saloon left.

And you just know that the electric version will be even more expensive. We wouldn’t expect change out of £120,000.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

Want to see the latest car content first? Add Carwow as a preferred source here. Click here to follow us on Reddit, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, advice guides and videos. You can also subscribe to our WhatsApp channel to get the latest news sent straight to your phone.