The all-electric BMW iM3 will rock four electric motors and a dramatic design. It looks as though BMW will preview the new model at the Le Mans 24 Hours. The electric model will co-exist alongside the current ICE M3 and the next-gen G84. It’s only been a little more than a couple of months since the all-electric BMW i3 was unveiled, and already, the German brand is edging closer to lifting the veil on the all-electric M-branded version. The long-awaited model may debut at this weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans or be previewed by a motorsport-inspired concept. Photos snapped in the Le Mans paddock this week show BMW has set up a dedicated fanzone at the event, and within it is a large box with glass doors. An image circulating online provides a preview of the car hidden behind the glass, and it looks to be the electric M3, potentially known as the iM3. Read: A 1,000 HP Electric M3 And A 552 HP Gas M3 Will Have The Same Price Tag A couple of months ago, a handful of images reportedly showing this car leaked online, and the car shown at Le Mans looks very similar. Like the standard i3, it features BMW’s Neue Klasse-era front fascia but it is noticeably wider, with two square LED daytime running lights on either side. The wing mirrors are particularly interesting, as shown in these photos from the German Car Forums. They don’t look like those on any current BMW M production car; instead, they look more like the mirrors we’d expect to see on a race car. This has prompted some to suggest the vehicle previewed won’t be the production-spec iM3, but rather a concept that previews its design. A Track-Focused Beast German Car Forums The vehicle’s presence at Le Mans will come just a few days after BMW released the latest episode in its multi-part documentary detailing the development of the electric M3 sedan. This episode focuses on the car’s brutal testing regime at the Nurburgring Nordschleife, where it’s covered more than 4,970 miles (8,000 km). While many details about the car remain under wraps, we know it will have a quad-motor setup with an electric motor at each wheel and individual gearboxes. This will enable BMW to precisely control torque distribution. In this clip, BMW says, “this new technology allows us to push the boundaries of vehicle dynamics even further.” RReplayer / Bimmer Post “This allows us to send more power to the wheels that can use it most effectively,” BMW adds. “You can get back on the throttle much earlier, exactly to the slippage area of a wheel, so you can step on the throttle very, very early. The car doesn’t push outwards but is pulled and pushed through the corner, without any understeer or oversteer.” So, while moving to electric power will no doubt upset some purists, it’s clear BMW is committed to making the iM3 as intoxicating to drive as possible.
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