Watch the Electric BMW M3 (Silently) Lap the Nürburgring

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WIP1992@reddit

I hope they call it the eM3 so phonetically it sounds the same as M3

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rugbyj@reddit

The e suffix is already used for their hybrids.

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qui3t_n3rd@reddit

They use i for their full BEVs, so maybe M3i? or iM3?

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FirstSFWAccount@reddit

Somehow I fear they’ll go full BMW:

///M3 i-Performance xDrive Gran Coupe

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Maybe the latter, the i suffix is their petrol range (e.g. 330i) so I doubt they'd append it like that. The reality is they're just in an awkward spot trying to maintain any sort of sanity across such a wide range of models straddling varying "classifications".

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Claide@reddit

The latest model, the 1 series, has now introduced a new naming scheme, where petrol engines are just named with numbers and diesel versions have the "d" suffix.

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R_V_Z@reddit

iV| 3

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throwthisaccawaay@reddit

Pretty sure they'll go "i3M" or something similar, if not just "M3".

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simeddit@reddit

MƐ

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moving0target@reddit

E = M3²?

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mishap1@reddit

They're German. Their ability to name something with a bit of a cheeky homophone isn't in their DNA.

Recall this masterpiece:

BMW Individual M760Li xDrive Model V12 Excellence THE NEXT 100 YEARS

Or their Stuttgart competions:

Mercedes G-Class STRONGER THAN THE 1980s

They're much more likely to give it some terrible name that will include some inscrutable number that can't be compared to another vehicle.

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Juicyjackson@reddit

Looks cool, Im excited to see the gas version though, and all the other gas versions of the 3 series.

Something about an EV M car doesnt sit right with me.

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cookingboy@reddit

I’m so excited for this car lol. When the lease for my i4 M50 runs out I’m getting either this or a slightly used Taycan GTS as a replacement.

EV sports sedans are the perfect daily for me. They cost almost nothing to run and is easier to live with than a Prius in traffic and can still be exciting when the road opens up a bit.

Too bad most options these days are crossovers. We need more compact EV sedan choices than the Swasticar Model 3.

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New_Inside3001@reddit

I used to laugh at takes like yours but after a lifetime of BMWs i finally also realised they’re not dedicated sports cars and you’re better off with an m lite, non m or even an electric variant for daily driving lol

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cookingboy@reddit

Yeah there is a reason that the stereotype is “BMW customers graduate to Porsche customers”.

M cars are great for what they are, but at the end of the day they are souped up family cars.

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snubda@reddit

M has always stated that their cars are daily drivable sportscars you can take to the track. It’s hard to understand owning one as a garage queen.

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moonRekt@reddit

Family. Family. Family. Family. Family. Family. Family. Family. Family.

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New_Inside3001@reddit

Absolutely

And at the cost of pissing off a lot of bmw owners (I own 3) imho M cars aren’t even that sporty or comfortable, you get the worst of both worlds

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MHMabrito@reddit

A bunch of us “boomer” previous m3 owners now have i4’s because there’s just no maintenance or upkeep aside from tires

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moonRekt@reddit

I hate the i4 cuz I always think it might be a new M4 or M440i but I’m always disappointed. But probably also a huge reason people like them because it’s so hard to tell the difference

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MHMabrito@reddit

My only issue with the i4 is the half grill. I’ve been thinking about putting a new grill on forever.

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dnyank1@reddit

yes, can confirm - an EV sport sedan is a ridiculously fun daily driver

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MadUohh@reddit

Wouldn't the electric 3 series be a downgrade for you? The hatch on the i4 is super cool

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Noex3ptions@reddit

Are you implying that there will be a gas version? I think the public may be extremely disappointed when they didn’t develop 2 completely different M3s.. if I had to guess it will be EV only.

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bigloser42@reddit

BMW is developing 2 completely different M3’s. They’ve already announced that. There will be an EV M3 and an ICE M3.

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turb0_encapsulator@reddit

If the hybrid M3 is like the M5, the electric will be lighter and more fun.

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avoidhugeships@reddit

Unlikely, I have yet to see an EV that is fun.

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MaybeNext-Monday@reddit

Keyword see. Folks who talk like this have usually never driven an EV that wasn’t a rental econobox.

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avoidhugeships@reddit

Nope, it's just that EVs are boring to drive. No sound, no torque curve, no shifting and no character. I am sure some people enjoy it but most enthusiast don't.

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cgduncan@reddit

Have you seen what Hyundai is making?

Their Ioniq 5 n has a simulated 8 speed dct, complete with customizable engine noise to fit your fancy, paddle shifters, a torque curve, consequences for short shifting or money shifting, a button on the wheel that gives you an extra 40hp on demand, drift mode and tune able torque split too.

Or does the soul only come from the dinosaurs sacrificed for our fossil fuels?

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avoidhugeships@reddit

It's like 80 to grand for a weird looking SUv with no range. I like that they are trying but it's a miss. A bunch of fake video game like gimmicks does not replace the real thing.

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MaybeNext-Monday@reddit

Had to slip the completely unsupported “no character” in there because the rest of your list is unimportant.

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bigloser42@reddit

Iirc, at most it’ll get what the M340i has with the small motor/generator that helps to cover the shifts. It may not get anything at all though.

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Juicyjackson@reddit

https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/confirmed-next-gen-bmw-m3-will-offer-both-all-electric-and-gas-power/

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Dp04@reddit

They can just pump in fake engine noise to the cabin like they have for the last decade.

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Ran4@reddit

Why? Makes no sense to go for that.

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Inevitable-Engine908@reddit

competing with the taycan and Porsche’s other electric models, maybe competing with Audi’s etron, plus all the Tesla fanboys are jumping ship so those guys who drop tons of money on a Model S would like this

plenty of money to be made

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bwoah_gimmethedrink@reddit

nah I'm good

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nekmatu@reddit

No time listed? That’s what I’m wondering.

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jse000@reddit

Kinda cool. Wonder what this weighs in at.

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walmarttshirt@reddit

12,000 lbs. it’s the next generation M car. At this rate the 2030 M5 will weight 80,000lbs

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Main_Hornet8676@reddit

At 80,000lbs, I better be able to pilot that shit like a fucking Gundam.

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jondes99@reddit

The first sports sedan to lap the Ring in 5 minutes but also require a CDL.

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mishap1@reddit

Gonna go through a set of Cup 2s each lap.

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Ruxh_alt@reddit

Gonna change the tyres to Barrel 2s

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SnikySquirrel@reddit

Canyonerooooo

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natesully33@reddit

Being a modern car, it likely drives fine whatever the weight. The i4 I tested sure felt fine.

The i4 is ~5k I think with AWD, so maybe 5500? The quad motor thing likely adds weight and you know cars don't get lighter over time (because weight doesn't impact sales much). But - it is a new, dedicated EV platform so it could be lower than I think it will.

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RazingsIsNotHomeNow@reddit

Best guess based purely off of BMW's other EV weights is somewhere a little over 5000lbs.

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jse000@reddit

It's too bad batteries still weigh a fuck ton. The idea of a proper electric sports car is interesting, but I don't think it's really feasible yet.

Porsche will probably come closest with the new Cayman and Boxster, but the price is likely to be way beyond what I'm willing to pay.

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Clover-kun@reddit

You should look at the SC01

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JJYellowShorts@reddit

i mean at LEAST 5500 lbs

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Isaacw24@reddit

You can hear how heavy it is. Shame

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Henrenator@reddit

If there was a light EV sports car would anyone here buy it? Eg, Sub 3000lbs 2 seater

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Old_Letterhead6471@reddit

Battery packs with the kind of range consumers demand are at least 1000 lbs on their own. It will be quite a while before we see sub 3k lb ev’s. Lightest ev in the U.S. is the mini cooper at 3144 lbs, doubt they could even get a Miata under 3k.

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elementfx2000@reddit

For reference, the original Tesla roadster was about 2700 lbs, so it's definitely possible. I think the problem is consumers now demand more range so they need bigger battery packs or they won't sell.

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jse000@reddit

Wasn't the original roadster basically a Lotus with batteries stuffed in it?

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yhsong1116@reddit

No. They started out that way and had to rip out everything and redesign it By the time they were done it only looked like it but was a completely different car

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elementfx2000@reddit

More or less, yeah. It actually had a shorter wheelbase, but it did start out as a Lotus chassis.

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Old_Letterhead6471@reddit

People were getting less than 200 miles of range with them. Range shouldn’t matter in a sports car but buyers seem to care.

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PraxisOG@reddit

It matters because that 200 miles is much less with spirited driving

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mihametl@reddit

Seriously, what kind if take is "range shouldn't matter with sports cars"

Due to the nature of how they are driven even ICE sporta cars get less range.

I don't want to be stuck half way up a Mountain because I had fun driving.

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Minutes2Midnight@reddit

The non REx version of the i3 was sub-3k pounds. Range was fairly abysmal though.

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Old_Letterhead6471@reddit

Yeah super cool idea! Just poorly executed in an extremely goofy looking vehicle.

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blainestang@reddit

Fiat 500e is \~2,9xx lb in US spec.

2,7xx lb in some non-US versions, apparently, too.

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Old_Letterhead6471@reddit

The 0-60 is 8.5 seconds. Why would anyone buy a 50k Corolla just because it’s an ev?

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blainestang@reddit

I’m not saying it’s a great car, just responding to the claim that the lightest EV is 3100lb.

Also, a quick google search shows the cost to lease a 500e vs Corolla is pretty similar.

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Old_Letterhead6471@reddit

Do people lease corollas?

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Ran4@reddit

That's quite rapid with an EV power train.

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Henrenator@reddit

What if you remove the rear seats and sacrificed range? Would you complain about weight, or has it just always been about not liking EVs

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movingtobay2019@reddit

It is about EVs being inferior.

Weight is just a part of it.

So the choices are overweight EVs or EVs without weight penalty but non rear seat and shit range? Why not just buy ICE and call it a day?

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jse000@reddit

I like EVs for a particular use case. There are some things they don't and cannot do well right now though.

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Old_Letterhead6471@reddit

I don’t dislike EV’s but your argument is with physics, not me.

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optitmus@reddit

no, i dont sacrifice all the pain of a sports car to have even less engagement

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jse000@reddit

Someone posted up a Chinese EV that was basically an electric Evora in looks, weight, and power. At the listed 35k price I'd go stand in line.

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silvermercurius@reddit

second this, this car ia astonishing at least by looking at specs

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Pro-editor-1105@reddit

Honestly an EV miata would be lovely

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PraxisOG@reddit

People have restomodded them into existence: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a63098752/mazda-miata-ev-conversion-kit-details/

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natesully33@reddit

I had a C7 that was over 3,000lbs and it drove great. I'd raise that weight limit a bit, there are some superb two-seat sports cars up above it.

And yes, I very much want some kind of BEV Miata like thing. I don't care what it weighs (to a point), I care about the size, that it's convertible, and that it has decent range for road trips. It ought to have good suspension design and some actual performance too, of course, but the main focus should be on the driving feel on the street and not big numbers. And low price of course.

If something like that goes on sale in the US, I will definitely be test driving and considering buying it.

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Bonerchill@reddit

I’d be more inclined to buy a sub-4,000lb GT than a sub-3,000lb sports car.

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sideways_86@reddit

we'll find out eventually but most likely, https://caterhamcars.com/en/models/projectv & https://caterhamcars.com/en/models/evseven

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Ran4@reddit

L: 4,255mm, W: 1,893mm, H: 1,226mm

What the fuck.. I sure hope that's including mirrors because that's one really wide car. Can't drive that on normal b roads.

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sideways_86@reddit

even if that is excluding mirrors its still narrower than the G90 M5 (excluding mirrors, 1970mm) modern cars are just ridiculously big

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pegasusairforce@reddit

Back in the day people used to make EV conversions that usually used manual transmissions for simplicity sake.

I'm sure that's probably much less efficient than modern EV tech but I'd imagine it's super cheap to make so I always wondered why any company hasn't capitalized on that idea and made a low cost, short range, light weight "fun" commuter EV. Like the EV equivalent of a miata or GR86. I'm sure a lot of the audience of those cars would consider an EV if there was a true RWD/Manual option that was light enough to not be sketchy on back roads.

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