In the words of Bob Marley: “Times are changing.” Earlier this week, a prototype of the electric X3 M was spotted testing in Munich. Now another full-fledged M car without a combustion engine has been caught on camera. Pictured below, the “ZA0” super sedan was seen in Nürburg at the M Division test center.
Although it’s not the first time we’ve seen the electric M3, an interesting detail stands out. The brake discs are absolutely massive and provide enormous braking power. It’s hardly surprising that BMW is beefing up the brakes, considering this is a heavy car. After all, the current generation model in the xDrive version already weighs 1,780 kilograms in the European version.
The hot electric vehicle will weigh over 2,000 kilograms (4,409 pounds). Our estimate is around 2,225 kg (4,905 lbs). The figure is based on a previous sighting that showed a sticker showing the gross weight of a prototype. It will definitely be lighter than the X3 M “ZA5”, and not just because sedans generally weigh less than SUVs. The electric M3 will initially have rear-wheel drive, while the X3 M will also have a front-engine.
Although the regular iX3 is here and the i3 isn’t, the order is reversed for the M models. We hear the non-petrol M3 will enter production in March 2027, with the X3 M set to follow in November of the same year. BMW may later expand the product range with electric M versions of the as-yet-unannounced i3 Touring and iX4 before the end of the decade.
Meanwhile, these close-ups also show a familiar trunk lid spoiler design. Since the debut is still more than a year away, the prototype does not yet have production-ready taillights. A look inside shows a central screen that will appear in around 40 BMW models by the end of 2027.
The infotainment system iDrive It also marks the beginning of the end of the rotary knob. It has already disappeared from BMW’s compact cars and will be phased out of the larger models with the adoption of the Neue Klasse.
But while everything seems to be changing, purists should know that a new gasoline-powered M3 is on the way. The “G84” will come onto the market in the second half of 2028. However, it could end up being a pure xDrive engine with an automatic transmission.
Photos: ringprototypes / Instagram
