BMW has offered its clearest look yet at the upcoming electric BMW M3 ZA0, revealing new details about the M Division’s next-generation performance sedan as the automaker celebrates the production of its one-millionth M car.
BMW Celebrates One Million M Cars
The milestone car, an M3 finished in the one-off Individual Fire Orange III color, recently rolled off the assembly line at BMW’s Munich plant. During an official ceremony at the production facility, plant director Peter Weber handed the keys to M Division CEO Frank van Meel as a symbolic gesture marking the occasion.
BMW used the celebration to offer a preview of what comes next for its M lineup. Just days after revealing the all-new, all-electric i3, the automaker has now provided a closer look at its upcoming electric M3.
A Closer Look at the Electric M3
The upcoming electric M3 has already been spotted testing at the Nürburgring in camouflage. BMW has now provided its most revealing look yet at the i3’s M-badged sibling, although the prototype remains covered in camouflage.
The M-themed camouflage pattern provides a clearer view of the sedan’s design. The M3 ZA0 shares several similarities with the i3 but adopts a more aggressive appearance, including a hood vent and a split diffuser.
The electric M3 also closely resembles the M Concept Neue Klasse. Among the details carried over are the pairs of bumper-mounted lighting elements that BMW calls Track Lights.
What We Know About the BMW M3 ZA0
The BMW M3 ZA0 will be the brand’s first electric M model and will use the Neue Klasse architecture, just like the i3. Both models will be assembled at BMW’s Munich plant.
The ZA0 will feature four motors and front-axle disconnect, allowing the vehicle to switch between all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive. The system is also designed to improve efficiency by disengaging when all-wheel drive is not required in order to maximize range.
BMW has not yet provided information about the sedan’s power output or performance. Its battery pack is said to have a capacity of more than 100 kWh, while the model is expected to arrive early in 2027.
Gas-Powered M3 Also Planned
BMW is also preparing a gas-powered M3 variant, codenamed G84. That model is expected to follow the electric M3 in 2028.
The electric M3 ZA0 therefore represents another major step in BMW M’s next phase, with the company preparing its first electric M model alongside a continued gas-powered M3 offering.
