What we know!

Spy shots have already revealed the M3 with its production body, although the inline-six remains under wraps. These shots show clearly the similarities between the M3 EV and the M3 340i-replacing M350. Besides the shorter nose on the electric version, everything else remains the same.

Not only do these two models look alike in the area of design and with a minimalist interior and new iDrive, but they also sound alike! To that end, the ZAO is expected to feature an artificial inline-six soundtrack, with the gas model using a new type of six-cylinder engine, which may likely be a mild-hybrid version of the S58 powertrain.

BMW Senior Vice President Dr. Mike Reichelt commented on the electric and gas M3s, “We’re (going to) offer it with a new type of six-cylinder engine, because we understand it may be early for some committed M fans to make the switch. But we are convinced the fully-electric M3 is going to hit new heights and reach new target groups, because it’ll behave completely differently.”

That means the electric M3’s power will be applied through the brand’s new “Heart of Joy” performance control unit, which processes info such as road conditions up to 10 times faster than existing modules. This “superbrain” of sorts combines “high-precision handling, perfect traction and smooth operation,” according to Reichelt. “For the first time, it merges powertrain and chassis control into a single high-performance computing unit.”

It is as if “the car knows what you want it to do,” he added, with all of BMW’s Neue Klasse electric models expected to utilize the Heart of Joy technology.

While it is still unclear when these two cars will debut, it is expected that the ZAO will be first, possibly as early as 2027, with its gasoline counterpart set to arrive the following year. Also in the area of similarities, the combustion-engine model and the EV may be offered exclusively with an automatic transmission.