BMW is electrifying its entire range. It is therefore reasonable to assume that the M3, its flagship sports sedan, will lose its internal combustion engine in the near future. Indeed, this appears to have been the plan not so long ago, but today a report from the BMW Blog indicates some changes behind the scenes. A new ICE M3 is reportedly on the way and will exist alongside an electric model.
There are many interesting details in BMW Blogs report. He says the electric and the ICE M3 wouldn’t share a platform, for example. The report also states that the M4 coupe would also be electric-only. In other words, the sedan might be the only option for those who want the power of an inline-six.
The plan, says BMW Blog, is to use the current 3.0-liter S58 engine for the next car, because it will still comply with emissions standards. This means a power output of around 500 horsepower or more, but it is very unlikely that the new car will come with a manual transmission. BMW M executives seem keen to get rid of pesky clutch pedals as soon as possible.
BMW already showed us a four-motor electric M car, but we haven’t heard anything since releasing a short teaser several months ago. At that time, it was likely that the German automaker thought it would be the only transmission proposed in a potential new M3, but reduced regulatory pressure would have been a game-changer.
Several countries have pushed back on ICE bans and strict emissions regulations have faced loopholes or been watered down entirely. For example, the European Union has adopted a provision authorizing cars with combustion engines to run on synthetic fuels. It has also been reported that upcoming EPA regulations have been reduced following pressure from the auto industry.
Considering all of this, it makes sense that BMW would still offer an ICE-powered M3, especially if it uses the same engine as the current generation. All of this should of course be taken with a grain of salt, but it could mean that the relevance of internal combustion, at least in terms of performance cars, could continue well into the 2030s.
