BMW M has built its one-millionth car, and BMW used the milestone to show the electric M3 in its thinnest disguise so far.
The milestone car is an M3 Competition sedan with M xDrive, painted BMW Individual Fire Orange III and built at BMW's Munich plant. Plant head Peter Weber presented it to Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M GmbH, at a ceremony at the factory.
"The one-millionth BMW M vehicle shows that these values are still very much appreciated by our customers, 40 years after the market launch of the first BMW M3," van Meel said.
The same plant will build the electric M3. BMW calls it the first high-performance model with BMW M Neue Klasse technology, and it will be the second Neue Klasse car made in Munich after the electric i3. From 2027, the Munich plant will build only electric vehicles. BMW is spending about €650 million on the switch, including a new body shop and assembly area on about a third of the site.
"We are delighted that we will also be producing the first fully-electric BMW M3 here in Munich," Weber said. The current M3 has been built there since 2020.
What the new photos show
The prototype in BMW's photos wears a thin wrap in M colors in place of the heavy camouflage on earlier test cars, and BMWBLOG notes an M3 graphic across the roof. That fits the name. BMW's own release calls it the fully electric M3, with no "i" added. It looks close to the M Concept Neue Klasse that BMW showed in June, but toned down. InsideEVs reports the flared wheel arches, vented hood, yellow headlight graphics, and squared-off lower lights all carry over. The ducktail spoiler is gone, and conventional mirrors replace the concept's sculpted ones.
Underneath are four motors, one for each wheel, which should allow torque vectoring at every corner. BMW hasn't released output figures. The six-cylinder M3 isn't finished, either. InsideEVs reports BMW M has said the electric and gas M3 should be priced in the same range, with a gas successor to today's car on the way. We covered that two-M3 plan earlier, along with the new 3 Series lineup.
Judge the wrapped car against the current M3 on WhipJury.
Sources:
The one-millionth car, the quotes, and the Munich plant: BMW Group
Milestone coverage: Motor1
Design changes, the four motors, and pricing plans: InsideEVs
Rumored output: Carscoops
The wrap, roof graphic, and insider output estimate: BMWBLOG
Photos: BMW Group press images
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Cam Walsh has been obsessing over cars since before he could drive one. Based out of Atlanta, Cam covers automotive design, car culture, and the eternal debate over which whips actually look the part.
