Electric BMW M3 previewed with four motors and 2028 Australian arrival

Key takeaways

• Electric BMW M3 previewed by the Neue Klasse concept car
• Four-motor drivetrain expected to top 500kW in production
• Australian showroom arrival tipped for 2028

BMW has pulled the covers off the M Concept Neue Klasse at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and it is the clearest look yet at the first electric BMW M3. The show car points to a four-motor performance sedan due to begin production in 2027, with Australian deliveries expected to follow in 2028.

It is a big moment for one of the most loved nameplates in performance motoring. And for buyers worried about losing the engine note, there is good news further down.

What the electric BMW M3 will look like

The concept is built on the i3 sedan and wears M's trademark pumped-up wheel arches. Up front there is a sharper take on the shark nose, with a deep V-shaped channel in the bonnet feeding into split kidney grilles and enlarged lower intakes.

BMW calls the front bumper "trimaran-style" and says the look draws from high-speed sailing boats. A ducktail spoiler handles downforce at the rear, while yellow accents in the headlights become a new signature across the entire M range. The show car is painted in a fresh shade called Monza Red.

Inside, the electric BMW M3 will run BMW's new Panoramic iDrive, a display that stretches across the base of the windscreen. Lap timing, performance data and G-force readouts feature, and BMW is even building in virtual shift paddles and a simulated gearbox to keep drivers engaged.

Electric BMW M3 power and performance

The numbers are the headline act. The drivetrain uses four motors, one per wheel, managed by torque-vectoring software that can shuffle power instantly between corners. Drivers can also switch between all-wheel drive and a rear-biased mode.

BMW has demonstrated the technology producing up to 1000kW, though production versions are expected to deliver less. Even so, outputs beyond 500kW look likely, which would make this the most powerful M3 ever built.

Petrol BMW M3 is not going anywhere

Traditionalists can relax. BMW has confirmed the next-generation M3 will keep a turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engine alongside the electric version and a Touring wagon is tipped to return. Buyers will get to choose their own path.

Both the electric and petrol M3 are expected to break cover in 2027 before reaching Australian showrooms in 2028. Pricing has not been confirmed.

The electric era of the M3 is coming. The fact you can still have it with a petrol six makes the next chapter one of the most interesting yet.

Frequently asked questions

When will the electric BMW M3 arrive in Australia?

The electric BMW M3 is expected to debut globally in 2027, with Australian showroom arrivals tipped for 2028. Pricing is yet to be confirmed.

How powerful is the electric BMW M3?

BMW has shown the four-motor system producing up to 1000kW, though production versions are expected to deliver more than 500kW, making it the most powerful M3 ever.

Will the BMW M3 still come with a petrol engine?

Yes. BMW has confirmed the next-generation M3 will continue with a turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engine alongside the electric model.