Electric BMW M Cars Won’t Have Funny Names

BMW’s new era, the Neue Klasse, starts next month with the launch of the iX3. All upcoming models will feature the design and technology of this electric SUV, including the sporty M versions, which are expected to keep their legendary names.

According to a post on the Bimmerpost forum, BMW will not be adding the letter ‘i’ in front of the badges of its most powerful electric M models. This means that the sporty version of the iX3 will continue to be called simply the X3 M. On the other hand, milder M Performance versions will reportedly keep the ‘i’ in the name, such as the iX3 M60 xDrive.

However, we will have to wait for the sports versions. According to the same information, production of the M model will not begin before 2027. The standard iX3, on the other hand, will be unveiled as early as next month in Munich.

This outcome is due to the statements of the head of the BMW M department, Frank van Meel, who emphasized as early as 2023 that the company will not combine the letters ‘i’ and ‘M’ on the same vehicle. “We would never use the ‘i’ on the ‘M’, even though it would be electric,” Van Meel told Top Gear at the time. Although BMW trademarked the “iM3” moniker in 2023, it looks like the designation will never catch on in practice.

Despite the focus on electrification, BMW is not giving up on the internal combustion engine. The company recently confirmed that straight six-cylinder and V8 engines remain part of the M model range. Those engines were recently adapted to meet the strict Euro 7 norms, ensuring their survival in future sports cars of the brand.

• Also See: Next-Generation BMW X7 Set For 2027 Release Date