BMW M3's future revealed with dramatic new concept

To that end, the M Concept has been designed to be “instantly recognisable as a high-performance automobile”, said BMW, with a raft of features that point to its dazzling dynamic potential.

Some of the most striking of these include the unusual V-shaped bonnet, which frames the prominent air intake for the high-output EV drivetrain; the ‘shark nose’ grille that’s reminiscent of past performance icons such as the 3.0 CSL and 635 CSi; the aero-optimised, M-specific wing mirror designs; the heavily swollen rear arches; and the various aero elements made from natural fibres.

There’s a ‘trimaran-style’ front bumper design too, which is claimed to have been inspired by high-speed sailing boats – with a three-part design that “underlines the vehicle’s technical performance”. It’s echoed by a similar set-up at the back, in combination with a ducktail rear wing that boosts downforce and aerodynamic efficiency.

BMW also points to the yellow headlights as a feature derived from race cars – such as its own M Hybrid V8 LMDh sports prototype, which competes in the World Endurance Championship. It says these will be “a signature feature” of upcoming M cars and they are flanked on the concept by 3D-effect ‘track lights’ in the bumper.

The motorsport influence is evident inside too, where Heilmer and his team have sought to reinterpret the basic interior from the i3 and closely related iX3 into an environment that is “reduced and consistently geared towards the driving experience”.

The concept features four bucket seats (the rears are likely to be swapped for a more conventional bench for showrooms), which are shaped to give maximum support to all occupants during enthusiastic driving. They are finished in distinctive M-themed merino leather, with red harnesses to “emphasise the sporty character”.

A similar effect is achieved by the M-specific steering wheel, backed by chunky gear selectors – which on an EV are likely to be used to adjust the brake regen or throttle response.

As previewed by the earlier Vision Dynamics Experience concept, BMW M’s new EVs will use a highly bespoke drivetrain that puts a motor on each of the four wheels for intricate controllability of power output at each corner of the car while driving.

The arrangement is governed by BMW’s new ‘Heart of Joy’ vehicle control unit and allows for torque vectoring front to rear and side to side. BMW says this “opens up new potential for driving dynamics and driving safety”, as well as maximising the amount of energy that can be recuperated under deceleration.

Like the standard i3 and iX3, the M Concept is equipped with 800V charging architecture and a battery of “more than 100kWh” (it’s 108kWh in the current production cars), which is made up of BMW’s new efficiency-boosting cylindrical cells.

BMW has not given any indication of the M Concept’s hypothetical performance potential. The quad-motor set-up in the Vision Dynamics Experience test rig produced a gigantic 13,269lb ft of torque, but any production-ready evolution of the system is likely to be downtuned slightly.

Nonetheless, intel suggests the electric M3 will pack around 1000bhp – approximately double the output of the current straight-six car – which should allow for off-the-mark pace to rival most full-blown supercars.

However, BMW M sales boss Sylvia Neubauer recently told Autocar that the outright priority for the firm’s EVs is not to purely offer blistering straight-line pace but rather to “stay true to BMW M DNA” in offering engaging dynamics and controllability at high speed.

“It’s not only about acceleration and power. It’s about drivability, manoeuvrability and that level of trust and connection between the driver, car and road,” said Neubauer.

The Vision Dynamics Experience prototype was created to test and demonstrate how the Heart of Joy controller can help in this regard, distributing its generous power reserves to all four corners as required in a matter of milliseconds. But it remains to be seen exactly how closely a showroom-ready car can match its capabilities.