2027 BMW M3 Electric Vehicle Starts Testing, Potentially Delivering More Than 700 Horsepower

Last month, BMW M quietly released the first pictures of a high performance Neue Klasse EV. Now, spy photographers have caught the prototype undergoing cold weather testing in snowy Sweden.

Set to become the first M3 EV (or i3 M), the prototype is heavily disguised but closely resembles the Vision Neue Klasse concept. Starting up front, there’s a wide ‘grille’ that is flanked by sweptback headlights. Further below, we can see what appears to be an expansive lower intake.

The design of the model features sleek bodywork accompanied by door handles that sit flush with the surface. However, these aerodynamic elements are contrasted by bold fender flares, suggesting that this prototype boasts a broader track compared to the regular i3.

While specifics are somewhat unclear, the vehicle features a stylish windscreen and a progressively designed greenhouse. Additionally, it showcases a curved rear bumper along with a trunk that stands almost vertically.

Spy photographers didn’t get a good look inside, but BMW recently introduced their new Panoramic iDrive system at CES. It features an expansive pillar-to-pillar display located at the base of the windscreen. The display is broken up into three sections and the one directly in front of the driver acts as a digital instrument cluster. The remaining sections are customizable and can accommodate up to six widgets that show everything from the weather to a G Meter.

Little else is known about the car at this point, but it’s expected to use a quad-motor powertrain that was tested in earlier i4-based prototypes. Those were rumored to have more than 1,000 hp (746 kW / 1,014 PS) and advanced torque vectoring technology, but speculation suggests the road-going model could be a little tamer as it may have closer to 700 hp (522 kW / 710 PS).