BMW iM3 trademark signals new electric era for super-sedan icon

BMW M’s next-generation BMW M3 will be offered with either an internal combustion engine or an all-electric powertrain, with the latter to carry the iM3 badge, it has been revealed.

According to a patent submitted to both the European and German intellectual property offices earlier this month, the BMW Group applied for a trademark for the new iM3 nameplate.

Consistent with BMW’s current naming strategy, the iM3 patent is proof that the incoming all-electric sedan being developed by BMW M will indeed be a true ‘M car’ rather than an upgraded version of the core model, like the BMW i4 M50 is.

Not listed in the patent application is what the next-gen battery-powered M4 will be called but it’s almost certain to wear iM4 badges and share its powertrain with the fast four door.

Early reports suggest that BMW M is well underway with the development of the new iM3 sedan (and possibly wagon) with engineers tipped to be developing an advanced 1000kW quad-motor powertrain that, combined with the BMW’s next-generation Neue Klasseplatform, will offer performance and chassis technology well beyond current performance sedans.

Last year BMW M released pictures and videos of its wild quad-motor EV powertrain testing in a highly modified BMW i4 mule.

Thanks to the quad-motor arrangement, BMW M says it has developed an all-new fully variable M xDrive all-wheel-drive system that can see each wheel’s torque and power output precisely managed by a central control unit.

Bizarrely, the same control unit will oblige an amusing tank turn or 180-degree donut rotation, although the manoeuvre in the video released back then didn’t look real, suggesting the feature had yet to be perfected.

It’s thought the next-generation BMW iM3 will be so quick it will humble many so-called hypercars for acceleration with a 0-100km/h dash of less than 2.5 seconds expected.

As well as the EV version a plug-in hybrid update of the current car’s N58 turbocharged inline six-cylinder petrol will also be offered. 

Combined with the car-maker’s future electrification the next M3 should boast more than 520kW of power, matching the latest Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance.