BMW reveals the precursor to the electric M3 (27 photos)
At the 24 Hours of Le Mans marathon held in France last weekend, BMW unveiled the M Concept Neue Klasse prototype, which can be considered a precursor to the first electric M3. Its debut is expected in 2027, but has not yet been officially confirmed. 
The concept is based on the new i3 sedan, which features a more aggressive body kit, which, like some body panels, is made from a new type of composite material without the use of carbon fiber. The car features yellow headlights, a nod to the brand's racing models, as well as a small ducktail on the trunk lid—a nod to the M-Class's road-going predecessors. The complete absence of door handles is also worth noting. Instead, the front doors are proposed to be opened via special fins on the B-pillar, but the method for accessing the cabin for second-row passengers is not specified.
Incidentally, the cabin will only accommodate four people. Individual seats with advanced lateral support on a composite frame and multi-point seat belts are installed in both the front and rear. The prototype retains the narrow instrument cluster display at the edge of the windshield and the large infotainment system display. Special M-specific buttons have been added to the steering wheel, and a rollover bar can be seen between the first and second rows.
It's worth noting that BMW has decided to keep virtually no details about the prototype's powertrain. The company only confirmed the presence of four electric motors, the ability to electronically switch the sedan from all-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive, an 800-volt architecture, and a battery with a capacity of over 100 kilowatts. However, information had previously surfaced online that base versions of the production M3 would produce 700 hp, while the top-of-the-line version would deliver over 1,000 hp. 
