BMW is gearing up for one of its most unusual launches in recent years: the next-generation M3 will be offered in two distinct forms – a fully electric model and a traditional petrol variant. Crucially, both will carry a similar price tag.

The electric version, which is slated for a 2027 launch, will ride on BMW’s new Neue Klasse platform. It will use four electric motors – one per wheel – delivering a combined output of nearly 1,000 horsepower. That setup not only promises blistering acceleration but also elevates handling to a new plane through millimetre-precise torque distribution.

Alongside it, BMW will continue to field a conventional petrol-powered M3. It stays on the CLAR platform but adopts a restyled look that echoes the brand’s new design language. In effect, the company is holding on to its heritage while offering buyers an uncompromised choice.

What’s intriguing is that the two variants will share almost identical positioning and styling – effectively twins with different power sources. Rather than splitting its audience, BMW aims to bring them together, letting driving enthusiasts pick whichever powertrain feels right. To win over sceptics, the brand intends to showcase the electric M3’s capabilities extensively through test drives.

BMW is convinced that a seat in the electric M3 could quickly change a driver’s perception of EVs. The strategy is pragmatic: rather than forcing an electric transition, the brand simply hands the decision to the customer. That approach may well prove more effective than an abrupt abandonment of combustion engines.