BMW appears ready to showcase the long-awaited all-electric M3, likely called the iM3, at this weekend's 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Images from the Le Mans paddock reveal a dedicated BMW fanzone housing a large glass box containing a covered vehicle that matches earlier leaked photos of the electric M3.
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The car spotted at Le Mans wears the Neue Klasse front fascia seen on the standard i3 but with a noticeably wider track and squared-off LED daytime running lights.
The wing mirrors resemble race car mirrors rather than production BMW M parts, leading some to suggest this could be a design concept rather than the final production model.
Rigorous Testing at the Nürburgring
Just days before Le Mans, BMW released the latest episode of its documentary series detailing the iM3's development.
The episode focuses on the car's brutal testing regime at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, where it has covered more than 4,970 miles (8,000 km).
The iM3 will feature a quad-motor setup with an electric motor at each wheel and individual gearboxes, allowing precise torque distribution.
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BMW says this technology enables the car to push boundaries of vehicle dynamics further.
"This allows us to send more power to the wheels that can use it most effectively," BMW explains.
"You can get back on the throttle much earlier, exactly to the slippage area of a wheel, so you can step on the throttle very, very early.
The car doesn't push outwards but is pulled and pushed through the corner, without any understeer or oversteer."
The electric iM3 will coexist alongside the current ICE M3 and the next-generation G84.
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While some purists may be disappointed by the shift to electric power, BMW is clearly committed to making the iM3 as engaging to drive as possible.
