BMW plans identical pricing for electric and gasoline M3
BMW is preparing for an unusual move with its most famous sports sedan. When the next generation of the M3 hits the market, buyers will get two very different cars that will wear the same badge and, importantly, will have roughly the same price.
According to new data, BMW intends to sell the electric and gasoline M3 side-by-side in the same price range. This may sound simple, but it gets more interesting when you look at what each version actually offers.
Huge difference in power
The electric M3 can produce nearly 1,000 horsepower (1014 PS) thanks to a four-motor setup, although base models are likely to have 700-800 hp (710-811 PS) at launch. Meanwhile, the gasoline model will remain with an evolved inline-six twin-turbo engine, boosted by mild hybrid technology, to approximately 552 hp (560 PS).
Shared design and interior
Visually, the two cars will not differ much from each other. BMW wants them to feel like brothers and sisters, not like alternatives from different worlds. Expect shared design solutions inspired by the Neue Klasse style, although they are based on completely different platforms: the gasoline car will remain on an updated version of M3’s current CLAR platform.
Inside, both models are expected to follow the same minimalist, screen-heavy direction. This means fewer physical buttons and a more digital cabin, using BMW’s Panoramic iDrive technology, which can divide opinions just as strongly as the choice of powertrain.
BMW M management’s opinion
Silvia Neubauer, head of sales at BMW M, insists that both cars will meet buyer expectations.
“It’s not just about acceleration and power, but about handling, agility, and that level of trust and connection between the driver, the car, and the road,” she told Autocar.
She also made it clear that BMW knows not everyone will switch to electric vehicles overnight.
“Obviously, we won’t convince 100 percent of the petrolhead target group to buy a fully electric BMW M3,” she admitted. “But out of 100 people who try it, we will be able to convince some.”
Disappearance of manual transmission and rear-wheel drive
This explains why the gasoline version is not going away, although some of its elements might. It is reported that the manual transmission option, currently available only on the non-Competition M3 version, may be discontinued. If this happens, even the gasoline M3 will move further away from its analog roots.
Such a move by BMW indicates the company’s desire to cater to different market segments without losing the M3 model’s identity. Setting the same price for the electric and gasoline versions, despite the huge difference in power, is a bold marketing decision. It may be aimed at making the electric version more attractive to traditional buyers who might hesitate due to the higher cost of electric vehicles. At the same time, the potential disappearance of the manual transmission and rear-wheel drive on the gasoline model raises concerns among enthusiasts who value the classic driving experience. Thus, BMW is trying to balance between innovation and preserving heritage, which could become a key challenge for the future of the M3 lineup.