BMW revealed the first official details about the electric M3: Four engines and a ‘salt’ without a gearbox

The most interesting thing is that such a drive can act as ‘two cars in one’. BMW says that the front axle can be completely disconnected, so the car can work as rear-wheel drive when you want a ‘classier’ M feel or greater efficiency, and full AWD is returned if necessary. In other words, it won’t all be just ‘flu and silence’, but an attempt to retain part of the M character through driving modes.

All this will be coordinated by the ‘Heart of Joy’, BMW’s central system that combines drive and driving dynamics and manages the distribution of torque, stability and recuperation. BMW emphasizes in press materials that the wordč about M-specific software and control, which should react faster than classic solutions with differentials, because with a quad engine, every angle it gets its ‘dose’ of power separately.

The battery is a separate story. Multiple sources write that the M version will receive a customized package with a capacity of over 100 kWh, stronger cooling and a construction that helps the rigidity of the chassis, and the Neue Klasse architecture targets and 800V system for faster charging. In the announcements, BMW also mentions tricks for the ‘M experience’ in the EV, such as simulated ‘jumping’ and soundscape, which is more seen in some competitors in the performance EV class.

What does this mean for BMW fans who would like to drive it on our roads? First, the arrival is still far away, 2027 is mentioned as the goal, so the price and exact offer for the EU markets are still unknown. Secondly, this is a car that will be a niche story here, but it is important as a signal: BMW M is no longer only talking about plug-in hybrids and ‘M Performance’ packages, but is preparing for the full electric M3, which should equally attack the Tesla Model S Plaid and Lucid Air Sapphire, at least in terms of ambition and hardware.