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BMW Plans To Keep Gas M3 Around For As Long As Possible
BMW is planning to soon begin the all-electric M3 however, they have explicitly stated that the internal combustion engine version will also exist for as long as the law permits it. According to CarXpert from Australia, M’s vice president of sales, branding, and customer experience, Silvia Neubauer, confirmed this during the event of the M5 launch in Australia. She said really that the new M3 will be available with both petrol and electric power.
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The gas engine remains focused on electric vehicles
While BMW, not unlike other manufacturers, pulls back on its full electric vehicle (EV) commitment, it is planning on retaining a few conventional engine vehicles in the coming years. Very low-scale sales of electric vehicles and constant changing of government regulations have forced various manufacturers to reconsider some facets of their EV schemes since the investments given into EVs haven’t returned sufficient encouragement.
The automaker is in a monumental process of transformation under the new-generation program of its vehicles “Neue Klasse”. This program means many far-reaching changes in the design, features, and brake-throughs of BMW vehicles. Nonetheless, the automobile maker still believes that the main reason for the success of its performance cars comes from their internal combustion engines.
BMW’s vision for future cars
In a talk with CarExpert, Silvia Neubauer said, “We have put all-electric M Performance models in nearly all segments that provide for a pure M experience without any local emissions. But we think there will still be a space in the market for other driving technologies, hybrid and conventional engines, among them.” He also added, “You can trust us; we are fully prepared for the future. I can give you my word that the all-electric M3 we are talking about will also have its petrol-engined brother, and they will be sold alongside each other. This means that whatever the demand is from the customer, we will be able to service it in any market, regulations permitting.”
BMW iM3: Features of the electric M3
Reports about BMW’s electric iM3 model came about after spy photographers saw it testing during winter testing. Little is known about it, but it will be built upon BMW’s Neue Klasse platform and will have quad-motor electric propulsion with 746 kilowatts (around 1000 horsepower).
The electric M3 will also feature a new dynamic control mode called Heart of Joy, adjustable driving dynamics set up with standard and various strings of gas turbo engine character like normal, sport, and M mode. This will be an exclusive feature for the BMW iM3, making it very different from regular cars.
BMW’s new technology for iM3
Apart from this, BMW is working on synthetic gear shifts and powertrain noises for its electric M3, following the example of the Hyundai N. This aims to produce conventional manual and auto car driving sensations in an electric vehicle. A further sound will be generated by this car as an artificial means to compensate for the vacuum created by the absence of exhaust and engine sounds.
When will the next M3 with a gas engine be launched?
Though little information on the next version of the M3 with the gas engine has been revealed from BMW, the next generation G50 3 Series is estimated to be released by 2026. After this, the new petrol version of the BMW M3, which will be a petrol-powered option of the iM3, is expected to be launched around 2028.
Conclusion
BMW has clarified that it will also maintain cars with Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs), while Electric Vehicles (EVs) are on the incline. The company understands that M3 performance car enthusiasts still are fond of gas engines for power and feel, so BMW is prepared to offer gas engines alongside EVs in the coming years to satisfy all sorts of customer requirements. All this will continue as long as regulations permit BMW to do so.
