Next M3 / M4 will have both Electric and Combustion Engine models -- says M CEO

[hb]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

No mention of a future M4 though, so who knows.

There is no M4 because there is no new 4 Series, only i4.

[R N M]

The issue will be that it’s going to be Hybrid and weigh a lot more like the new M5.

Hopefully BMW will still make ICE only variant but very unlikely considering that even Porsche is doing all hybrid and EV on next gen 911.

[JMD]

Welp! So much for that "...there will never be an all electric 'M' model!" statement.

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by hb

There is no M4 because there is no new 4 Series, only i4.

This is my understanding too from the rumors. This is why I did a custom build M4 this year with intentions of keeping it long term.

[R N M]

Originally Posted by yousefnjr

I hope they don’t do some hierarchical bullshit and make sure they’re roughly the same power, aka gimp the EV

I think they will need to really make the EV much faster for it to gain any interest.

Most of the M owners like to modify their car and sound is very important. EVs just can’t replicate the emotional part of the driving experience.

Hyundai had great idea with the fake gears and engine sound so hopefully BMW does that.

[JMD]

Originally Posted by kmarei

" the best-selling M model in 2024 is likely to be the BMW i4 M50."

shocking no?
so not the M340i or even the M440i, heck i even expected the M240i to outsell the i4
i did once drive an M3 and I4 M50 back to back at a BMW event.
and the i4 iM50i impressed me a lot more than the M3

After test driving an "i4 M50" at its launch years ago,...I can believe this. The thing is crazy fast!

[R N M]

Originally Posted by Alpine300zhp

This is my understanding too from the rumors. This is why I did a custom build M4 this year with intentions of keeping it long term.

It doesn’t make much sense to keep M2 and M4 - lots of overlap.
The M2 actually has more rear seat room I believe.

[R N M]

Originally Posted by kmarei

" the best-selling M model in 2024 is likely to be the BMW i4 M50."

shocking no?
so not the M340i or even the M440i, heck i even expected the M240i to outsell the i4
i did once drive an M3 and I4 M50 back to back at a BMW event.
and the i4 iM50i impressed me a lot more than the M3

I don’t think this is true in US market maybe globally where many places don’t even get the 6cyl version at all like China.

[ghaffari46]

Looking forward for an electric M4 with a range of about 300 miles (please!) for a daily drive, probably I keep my manual M2 for weekends.

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by R N M

It doesn’t make much sense to keep M2 and M4 - lots of overlap.
The M2 actually has more rear seat room I believe.

Well. In this current era of changing automotive demand, I suppose your statement is true. I view the M2, M4, M8 as a nice hierarchy lending itself to something for everyone. But, things are changing and mid size and large coupes are no longer good sellers. My guess is, with the overall push to electrification, BMW feels that only 1 mid size M is needed and the M3 makes more sense than the M4 if they are only going to make one mid size M. I do think the overall negative views of the XM and M5 spurred this change and that BMW was originally going to a hybrid setup for all M cars.

[cfm56d7b]

Looking forward to driving both vehicles. Who will be the first to retrofit manual transmission in the EV version with drive-by-wire clutch pedal and a shifter?

[M_Torx]

maybe they will figure out the weight thing can't be adding 1000 lbs to all the M lineup... even 500lbs to much to add.. 100 or 200 max

[Hit_Apex]

Originally Posted by R N M

The issue will be that it’s going to be Hybrid and weigh a lot more like the new M5.

I've yet to understand this 'issue' - the infatuation with weight just on principle. If the platform performs better in a straight line, is faster around a track, and more energy efficient, the difference comes down to intangibles. "It's the fastest Mx around our track we've tested but it just feels heavy, it should not be doing these lap times." The new M5 weighs about the same as a Rimac Nevera - what am I missing? The cult of weight is a curious movement that persists inexplicably.

[JMD]

Originally Posted by bpark671

i just know for a fact the ev’s will get zero sales 💀

Hmm, would you put a 'paycheck' on this? I'm betting the M3 EV will easily be at the 700Hp level,...and just think,...a 760hp Comp,...830hp CS,...and 950Hp GTS! Given that each will come to market with 4 eMotors,...I'm betting it will start a new generation of "M Buyers/Followers"! As an ICE driver, you may not want an M3 EV,...but that 30-to-40-something-year-old guy currently driving a Tesla Model 3 Performance may very well be highly interested in an M3 EV. And just think, Tesla sold truck loads of Model 3 Performance EVs so, the market for an M3 EV already exists, and this is the market BMW is interested in more than anything.

This is what BMW is betting on...

[C ///M]

Originally Posted by bpark671

i just know for a fact the ev’s will get zero sales 💀

https://www.thedrive.com/news/2023s-...-the-i4-m50-ev

The i4 M50 was already their best selling M car in 2023 and in line to be again in 2024.

You think BMW would do this without supporting data making them think it's a smarter move?

Consumer reports just rated the iX as the best luxury SUV.

If they can just improve (IMO) the front-end styling, I think they'll be just fine.

Then again, my favorite M3 is still the E46 chassis, so take all that with a grain of salt.

[Jim B]

Originally Posted by ednir98

The big question is, are they willing to update the manual trans? As I understand it, the one being being used in the G series cars is the same one that was used in the F series. I presume e-turbo will have a different power band which would require transmission changes.

BMW should go the the Tremec 6-speed. This transmission is currently used in Camaro and Mustang Dark Horse as well as on the Dodge Challenger, including the base Hellcats. It's one of the best ones out there.

[mbanck]

Originally Posted by R N M

The issue will be that it’s going to be Hybrid and weigh a lot more like the new M5.

Apparently it will be a mild-hybrid (like the M340i), not a PHEV like the M5.

[hb]

Originally Posted by JMD

Hmm, would you put a 'paycheck' on this? I'm betting the M3 EV will easily be at the 700Hp level,...and just think,...a 760hp Comp,...830hp CS,...and 950Hp GTS! Given that each will come to market with 4 eMotors,...I'm betting it will start a new generation of "M Buyers/Followers"! As an ICE driver, you may not want an M3 EV,...but that 30-to-40-something-year-old guy currently driving a Tesla Model 3 Performance may very well be highly interested in an M3 EV. And just think, Tesla sold truck loads of Model 3 Performance EVs so, the market for an M3 EV already exists, and this is the market BMW is interested in more than anything.

This is what BMW is betting on...

Will start slightly below 700 hp

[bpark671]

Originally Posted by C ///M

https://www.thedrive.com/news/2023s-...-the-i4-m50-ev

The i4 M50 was already their best selling M car in 2023 and in line to be again in 2024.

You think BMW would do this without supporting data making them think it's a smarter move?

Consumer reports just rated the iX as the best luxury SUV.

If they can just improve (IMO) the front-end styling, I think they'll be just fine.

Then again, my favorite M3 is still the E46 chassis, so take all that with a grain of salt.

a bit different when you consider that i4 m50 was an msrp $70,000. These will probably go way over that and not worth the price if people are looking to buy ev performance cars. Tesla performance cars just do better at least in straight line speed so not sure how bmw will match that unless they either make their ICE m cars and their ev variants to have a massive power and performance difference, making the ICE cars look silly. If you also consider the fact that the i4 m50 would have been at the time the only “m” ev, compared to the numerous amounts of ICE M cars and m lites, it makes sense why a single ev performance model did better in sales than each individual M car.

[Dégoûté]

This is huge! First, a welcome break from the “all EV or nothing” mindset; then, electric and petrol //M cars? Sign me up. I just hope one doesn’t lag too far behind the other

[bholler]

///M for marketing!

There really is only going to be one M3 and the other will be just an M-poster badged up EV with same body and interior.

M Package on steroids.

[SALD25]

So wondering if it will add 1000 lb just like the m5 and now you have a paperweight with an M badge.

Not a fan of any EV’s