Flashy BMW Concept Hints at Upcoming Electric M3BMW (BMW)BMW has revealed the Concept M Neue Klasse at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, previewing the upcoming electric M3.The concept wears a bright red paint job and features bulging wheel arches and an assertive front-end design.Inside, four bucket seats are wearing red and blue leather, and we can see the same screen setup as the production i3.We've known for some time that BMW is working on a high-performance version of the upcoming i3, which will serve as an electric alternative to the iconic M3 sports sedan. In January, BMW teased some technical details, and now we have a much better sense of what the iM3—as we think it will be called—will look like when it arrives in 2027, thanks to the Concept M Neue Klasse, which debuted today at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.BMW (BMW)BMW says the concept "showcases the new BMW M design language and sends a clear signal for the brand's all-electric future," and the concept is clearly based on the i3 sedan that goes on sale later this year. The pointy front end is accentuated by crisp body lines and bulging rear fenders, giving the sedan a menacing appearance.AdvertisementAdvertisementUp front, the headlights and kidney grille are conjoined, forming two horizontal elements that are bisected by a body-colored spine, above which perches the BMW badge. Inside the headlights are two yellow slashes, mimicking the lighting setup seen on the M Hybrid V8 race car that competes at Le Mans. These yellow lights, formerly restricted to the CS variants of M machinery, will now become a standard feature on future M performance vehicles.BMW (BMW)Below, the front bumper features cavernous air intakes, with the shape apparently inspired by high-speed multihull sailing boats. A protrusion on the outer edge of the bumper carries a pair of square running lights, and BMW says these "Track Lights" will become a hallmark of future M cars. There is also a prominent front splitter and a vent within the V-shaped indent in the hood.The rear end echoes the front with a similar bumper design that features deep cutouts above the rear diffuser, sandwiched again by the square Track Lights. The concept also wears a substantial ducktail spoiler, and the BMW badge sits in a notch between the taillights. BMW says the front splitter, hood air outlet, and diffuser are all fashioned from natural fiber elements, and the car is painted in a new hue called Monza Red.BMW (BMW)Inside, the cabin sports the same Neue Klasse infotainment setup seen on the iX3, i3, and refreshed 2027 7-series, featuring a narrow screen at the base of the windshield that spans the width of the dashboard and a center touchscreen with a parallelogram shape tilted towards the driver. The biggest change for the Concept M Neue Klasse is the four bucket seats, upholstered in Bathurst Blue and Berry Red leather. They feature five-point belts here, but we bet the production car will have regular seatbelts.AdvertisementAdvertisementBMW also says that, for the first time on an M vehicle, it has used black nubuck leather, a type of leather that has been sanded or buffed on the outside to create a velvet-like feel. The material appears on the steering wheel, door panels, and roll bar, while the dashboard wears a black knit material with hexagonal backlighting. The center console has also been reworked with a thinner, simpler setup and a gear selector finished in red, matching the shift paddles behind the steering wheel, and the digital interface has also been tweaked for M duty.BMW (BMW)Back in January, BMW revealed that the iM3 will feature four electric motors, one for each wheel, and the BMW M Dynamic Performance Control software will help determine how best to distribute the power between each wheel. BMW has also said the car will have an 800-volt architecture, allowing for rapid recharging, and that a battery with more than 100 kWh of capacity will allow for plenty of range.The cylindrical cells have been optimized for use in M performance cars, and the battery housing is also structurally integrated with both the front and rear axles. We expect the production version of the Concept M Neue Klasse to be revealed later this year as the M performance division embarks on a new electrified journey.➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.Shop New Cars Shop Used CarsYou Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029