2027 BMW Neue Klasse M EV: Everything We Know About the First Electric M Car
Expect 1 megawatt of power from this M1-inspired quad-motor EV.
What It Is
We expect BMW’s experimentation with high-performance electrified M cars to shift into high gear. Following in the footsteps of the plug-in hybrid BMW XM and M5, the Neue Klasse M EV aims to be the first M-blessed electric car. And what a car it should be.
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Why It Matters
M GmbH has dabbled in hybrids and electrified gas models such as the XM SUV and new M5 sedan. This will be the first all-electric M car, a model that will define BMW’s performance division as it moves beyond internal combustion engines.
Platform and Powertrain
Making use of the Neue Klasse’s new platform, the M variant will take full advantage of the sedan’s 800-volt architecture. That means lighter weight inherent in 800-volt systems versus the more typical 400-volt components, and the setup’s ability to both charge and—crucially for a performance car—discharge its battery quicker.
At the receiving end of all those electrons are set to be four BMW-designed electric motors, one for each wheel. Producing a combined 1,341 hp (a convenient 1 megawatt), the quad-motor AWD system allows BMW to precisely tune torque at each wheel. This should ensure sub-three-second 0–60 times, provide instant torque vectoring, and enable Lucid-like tricks to improve high-speed stability and turn-in. We believe a dual-motor Neue Klasse M, with 670 hp
and a classic BMW rear-drive setup (yet still with individual rear wheel control), is also under consideration. No matter the powertrain, don’t expect a traditional transmission; each motor will drive its wheel directly.
Visually, we expect the Neue Klasse M to blend the Neue Klasse sedan and SUV concepts’ styling cues with those of the legendary Giugiaro-penned BMW M1. Expect a low-slung, wedgy ’70s throwback design with a fastback roofline and chevron-shaped rear end. Early camouflaged prototypes hint toward a coupe, but the design could accommodate i3-style rear doors in a bid to increase the niche sports car’s appeal.
BMW still has plenty of work to do on the Neue Klasse, so expect the M to be further out still. Early indications suggest the Neue Klasse M will make its debut sometime in 2026 or 2027, depending on how smoothly it progresses. The gestation might be long, but the Neue Klasse M appears worth waiting for.
Estimated Price: $100,000
Estimated On-Sale Date: Late 2026 or 2027
I generally like writing—especially when it’s about cars—but I hate writing about myself. So instead of blathering on about where I was born (New York City, in case you were wondering) or what type of cars I like (all of ’em, as long as it has a certain sense of soul or purpose), I’ll answer the one question I probably get most, right after what’s your favorite car (see above): How’d you get that job? Luck. Well, mostly. Hard work, too. Lots of it. I sort of fell into my major of journalism/mass communication at St. Bonaventure University and generally liked it a lot. In order to complete my degree senior year, we had to spend our last two semesters on some sort of project. Seeing as I loved cars and already spent a good portion of my time reading about cars on sites such as Motor Trend, I opted to create a car blog. I started a Tumblr, came up with a car-related name (The Stig’s American Cousin), signed up for media access on a bunch of manufacturer’s websites, and started writing. I did everything from cover new trim levels to reviewing my friends’ cars. I even wrote a really bad April Fool’s Day post about the next Subaru Impreza WRX being Toyota-Corolla-based. It was fun, and because it was fun, it never felt like work. Sometime after my blog had gotten off the ground, I noticed that Motor Trend was hiring for what’s now our Daily News Team. I sent in my résumé and a link to my blog. I got the job, and two weeks after graduation I made the move from New York to California. I’ve been happily plugging away at a keyboard—and driving some seriously awesome hardware—ever since.
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