03:15 08-06-2026

Electric BMW M3 ZA0: why it's more than just swapping the engine for a battery

BMW's first fully electric M3 debuts in 2027 under the ZA0 codename, with four motors, custom-developed tires and a synthetic soundtrack built from real BMW engines.

BMW is preparing the first fully electric M3, and it isn't just a sedan with a battery in place of the inline-six. The model, codenamed ZA0, arrives in 2027 and is forcing engineers to redesign the running gear almost from scratch.

During testing at the Nürburgring, BMW discovered that the usual solutions carried over from the combustion M cars couldn't handle what the new machine is capable of. Both axles had to be developed from a clean sheet: four electric motors deliver instant torque and can route it independently to each wheel.

For the chassis that's a very different kind of load than an ICE, where power doesn't arrive nearly as abruptly. For the same reason, BMW is working with tire makers on a new rubber compound. Around a dozen variants are currently being tested, including a dedicated Pirelli P Zero spec for the 20-inch wheels. And it isn't just about traction off the line.

The electric M3 has to hold a precise line in corners, work with individual torque vectoring and not chew through its tires after a couple of fast laps. The most divisive part of the project will be the sound. BMW has already confirmed the electric M3 won't be silent: a bespoke soundtrack is being prepared, based on recordings of the brand's big engines. It isn't yet clear whether echoes of the inline-six, V8 or V10 will surface, but the idea is clear — keeping an emotional link between driver and machine.

The second artificial layer is simulated gearshifts. BMW frames it not just as entertainment but as a tool for the driver: the audio cues and tactile pauses are meant to give a sense of speed and how hard the car is accelerating. Not everyone will love it, but if it can be switched off, it becomes a character setting rather than mandatory theater.

At the same time, the combustion M3 isn't going away. BMW is developing a new generation in parallel with an inline-six engine, expected around 2028 under the G84 codename.

According to early reports, a manual gearbox may no longer be part of the package, and drive will become all-wheel only. The electric M3 will be a real test for BMW M: whether the brand can replace not the engine itself, but the feeling that has sold this badge for decades.

According to 32CARS.RU, BMW has extended production of the manual-equipped M3 G80 through the end of summer 2027.