The iconic BMW M3 is going electric, but with a twist: it will feature synthetic gearshifts and sounds to keep drivers enthralled. Based on the upcoming Neue Klasse EV platform, this quad-motor performance saloon will be a game-changer. Dominik Suckart, BMW's high-voltage battery chief, promises a 'legacy to continue' for the M division's reputation for engaging driver's cars. The challenge is to maintain the M division's position as the maker of the most engaging driver's cars in the segment, despite the shift to electric power.
The M3 EV will have four motors, each with its own control unit, inverter, and reduction gearbox, ensuring precise torque vectoring. The battery will be at least 100 kWh in capacity, offering high sustained and peak power, and the ability to recuperate energy even at the limit of dynamics and tyres under deceleration. This electric powerhouse will also feature a specific software stack called M Dynamic Performance Control, which will give 'never-seen-before handling and traction control'.
One of the key innovations is the ability to switch from four-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive for track driving or drifting, as well as having a range-extending RWD driving mode. This will be achieved through the use of the innovative Heart of Joy high-performance control unit from the BMW Vision Driving Experience concept, which unifies all driving experience controls to enable faster and more intuitive reactions. This technology will ensure that the M3 EV delivers a familiar M driving experience, with synthetic gearshifts and noises designed to create an emotional M-like drive, similar to those used in Hyundai's engaging Ioniq 5 N and Ioniq 6 N.
Despite the electric nature, BMW is committed to preserving the M division's legacy of delivering a familiar M driving experience, ensuring that the M3 EV remains a driver's dream.
