BMW is testing a battery-powered M3 model at the Nürburgring. Four engines and 800 horsepower in “green hell”
In short:
Bavarians are testing the M3 at Nürburgring in a near-production body
The sedan, with around 800 horsepower, has four electric motors and a battery with a capacity of about 100 kWh
In terms of style, the M3 ZA0 will be similar to the concept car Neue Klasse
The M3 and its Touring version will hit the market in 2027
BMW and the four-motor powertrain
Although the Bavarian electric car still has camouflage on it, many elements suggest it is already close to its final form. The BMW Blog points out the distinctive air intakes on the front bumper—a feature taken straight from the concept car M Concept Neue Klasse. “Yes, electric cars also need cooling,” the site reminds readers, emphasizing that the huge front air intakes and enlarged wheels leave no doubt that this is something much more aggressive than a standard electric vehicle.
The biggest revolution lies beneath the chassis. BMW has confirmed that the M3 (codenamed ZA0) will feature a four-engine powertrain, with each engine driving one wheel. This isn’t just full xDrive; it also allows for complete disconnection of the front axle, enabling drivers to have a “pure rear-wheel-drive setup for drifting fun” – writes Motor1.
Motor Trend, on the other hand, describes this system as a “four-engine BMW M eDrive setup based on sixth-generation technology,” controlled by M Dynamic Performance Control, which manages not only each engine but also each brake caliper individually. According to the editorial staff, this enables “cornering with precision and speed unmatched by any previous M model.”
Sleek and insane specifications
Power? BMW does not provide official figures, but we recently mentioned 800-850 horsepower on elektromobilni.pl. This is a level that seemed unattainable for a production M3 just a few years ago. The entire system is powered by an 800 V battery with a capacity of around 100 kWh, which is structurally integrated into the axles, increasing the vehicle’s stiffness and improving its responsiveness.
Stylistically, the M3 ZA0 will be close to the concept car Neue Klasse. At the front, there will be a reinterpretation of the “shark nose,” yellow lights called “M Yellow Lights” inspired by the race-ready M Hybrid V8 from Le Mans, and a three-part trimaran-style front bumper. Oliver Heilmer, head of design for BMW Compact Class, Neue Klasse & BMW M, explained in BMW USA: “It’s more than just aesthetics — it’s the soul of the vehicle, making its performance tangible even when at rest.”
At the back, we’ll find the iconic “ducktail” design with a slot for the BMW logo, along with an aggressive rear diffuser that, as Motor Trend notes, “appears to float above the surface.” The production M3 will also feature “Track Lights,” which are dual rectangular lights in the corners of the bumpers, white at the front and red at the back.
The cabin is also in “M Power” style
The concept features a roof made of natural fibers—a solution the brand describes as “the first such advanced use of natural materials in an M car.” Motor Trend adds that this material is also used on the splitter, diffuser, and air outlets. It’s not an eco-friendly gesture but rather a weight reduction measure, of course.
The interior is, of course, designed around the driver. A minimalist dashboard with a black weave, hexagonal M lighting, new bucket seats made from natural composites, two-tone Merino leather in Bathurst Blue and Berry Red, along with five-point belts — all contribute to a “pure performance” atmosphere. A new feature is the nubuck steering wheel, whose texture resembles micro-leather, complete with red paddles and a mode selector.
Dual motor
Importantly, the M3 ZA0 won’t be the only M3 in the lineup. BMW Blog notes that the M3 G84, equipped with a six-cylinder twin-turbocharged 3.0 engine and a mild hybrid system, is also in development. Frank van Meel speaks of the “perfect combustion principle,” while the European M3 G80 already features a pre-combustion chamber to meet Euro 7 standards. Both versions — electric and gasoline-powered — are set to receive Touring variants as well: the electric ZA1 in 2028, and the gasoline-powered G88 in 2029.
In 2027, the electric X3 M (ZA5) will join them, followed later by the X4 M as well. BMW isn’t closing any doors — rather, it’s opening all of them at once to create parallel M worlds: gasoline-powered, hybrid, and electric — as we reported on elektromobilni.pl
Summary
Sylvia Neubauer, head of Customer, Brand and Sales at BMW M, puts it best: “I really can’t understand haters, because to evaluate something, you first need to experience it.” The M3 ZA0 is meant to be exactly such an experience — a manifesto that doesn’t ask for trust but demands it — she adds.
Oskar Włostowski
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