BMW has filed trademark applications for a new car model, iM3, in both Germany and the EU. CarBuzz believes that the new badge belongs on a fully electric sedan currently being designed by the company’s M division.
The car is expected to be all-new and not based on the existing M3 lineup, though. The name ‘iM3’ is most likely used to convey the idea that the electric saloon is the ideological successor to the petrol car. It would make sense for BMW to keep selling the M3 and the iM3 side-by-side for a while, offering the former in the countries where the environmental laws aren’t too strict yet.
In short, the fact that a powerful electric vehicle is coming from the BMW M department doesn’t mean that the M3 is being sent to its immediate retirement. Later on, an iM4 may be released as well.
Little is known about the powertrain, but the Neue Klasse platform the sports car is based on supports multiple motors rated up to 1,360 PS (1,341 hp / 1,000 kW). This means the output of the new EV might encroach on the four-digit horsepower territory. Feature-wise, BMW promises us ultra-precise torque vectoring and driving aids.
The electric M3 will not arrive until 2027.