The transition to electric powertrains hinges on outperforming traditional combustion engines as future BMW M3 will change “combustion”.
Munich, Germany – As the automotive world tilts towards sustainable mobility, Frank van Meel, the head of BMW’s high-performance M division, has unveiled aspirations to transition its flagship performance models, the BMW M3 and M4, to electric powertrains. However, he emphasizes that this move will only be realized if the electric variants surpass the performance of their gasoline-driven predecessors.
Recent reports suggest that the present generations of the BMW M3 and M4 might be the final models featuring combustion engines. Australian automotive publication, Drive, highlighted van Meel’s keen interest in phasing out internal combustion engines (ICE) in favor of electric powertrains for these iconic models.
Nonetheless, van Meel clarified the stipulations tied to such a major shift. “The logic is straightforward. The next M3 or M4 needs to be better than its current version,” he told Drive. “If we can achieve that through electric means, then it’s likely to go electric. Otherwise, we’ll stick to the traditional engine. However, we are pushing hard to make both models fully electric,” he added.
Rumors are swirling about the potential release of these electric incarnations, with speculations pointing to a 2027 or 2028 launch.
