It will be sold alongside the electric M3, which has also been confirmed for production
BMW enthusiasts have worried that the brand’s shift toward electrification would signal the end of the combustion-powered M3, but that’s not happening anytime soon. In an interview published Thursday, BMW M boss Frank van Meel told Bimmer Today that the company plans to keep offering the twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six engine in future M3 models, as long as there’s demand.
Van Meel also shared that BMW engineers are already working on certifying the engine to meet upcoming Euro 7 regulations. “We’ll keep the six-cylinder combustion running as long as possible,” he said in a translated video. “If customer demand stays strong, we won’t discontinue the six-cylinder either.”
BMW plans to keep the gas-powered M3 in production for the foreseeable future, meaning it will be sold alongside the rumored electric M3. The EV, built on the automaker’s Neue Klasse platform, is expected to feature four electric motors, potentially producing up to 1,341 horsepower, and will likely be faster than its combustion-engine counterpart. However, impressive performance figures won’t spell the end for the straight-six engine.
If customers say, ‘Even though the electric M3 is significantly faster than today’s combustion engine benchmark, I still want a combustion engine,’ we won’t deny them that option.
If BMW M fans want to continue enjoying gasoline-powered vehicles, they will need to back it with their wallets.
The next-generation combustion M3 and its electric version are still a few years from reaching showrooms. BMW must first launch its initial Neue Klasse model next year before the performance variants can debut. Don’t anticipate any new M3—whether electric or gas—until 2027 or 2028.
