BMW M isn’t taking the easy route. The brand is developing its own engine sound for future high-performance electric models — and it won’t be an imitation of anything that came before. Alexander Karajlovic, BMW M’s head of development, told Auto Motor und Sport that the sound needs to tell the driver what the powertrain is doing and help them read the car’s behavior in real time.
Piping a regular engine sound through the speakers is off the table. Full stop. BMW M has already said officially that it’s building an original sound signature for its electric drivetrain. Engineers studied the acoustics of past M models, including the M3 GTS and M4 GTS, but the new sound has to match electric motors, not combustion engines.
Another piece of the puzzle is what BMW calls Stages — selectable operating ranges for the drivetrain. According to Karajlovic, they’ll differ in throttle response and regeneration level. The system is meant to give drivers extra reference points while driving.
BMW has already confirmed that the next generation of electric M models arrives starting in 2027. The BMW M eDrive system uses four electric motors — one per wheel — and even simulates gear shifts. Tarantas News previously reported on the first electric BMW M3 and BMW’s plan to keep a parallel gasoline version alive.
