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CONCEPT CARS

BMW M3 EV Is Coming—and It Could Have More Than 1,000 HP

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For decades, the BMW M3 has been the benchmark sports sedan—the car that somehow managed to blend everyday usability with racetrack credibility better than almost anything else on four wheels. Soon, however, the M3 will enter uncharted territory. And if BMW’s latest concept is any indication, the future won’t arrive quietly.

Unveiled during the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the BMW M Concept Neue Klasse isn’t officially called an M3. BMW describes it as “the announcement of a new design language for high-performance cars from the BMW M division,” but the message is unmistakable. This is the clearest preview yet of the all-electric performance sedan widely expected to arrive as the i3 M—or, depending on BMW’s final naming strategy, the electric M3.

Either way, Munich’s most famous sports sedan is preparing for a dramatic transformation.

An M Car for the Electric Age

Park the concept next to an E30 M3 and the connection becomes obvious. The proportions, the stance, and the intent all point toward the same destination, even if the car wears an electric identity that some traditionalists may never fully embrace.

The M Concept Neue Klasse evolves the shape first introduced by last year’s Vision Driving Experience concept, but this version looks significantly closer to production reality. The familiar Neue Klasse sedan silhouette remains intact, yet nearly every surface has been sharpened and exaggerated by BMW’s M division.

The front and rear fascias feature aggressively sculpted openings inspired by high-speed multihull racing yachts. Cube-shaped LED elements, known internally as “track lights,” replace conventional lighting signatures. Flared fenders dramatically widen the car’s footprint, while a prominent ducktail spoiler finishes the rear with unmistakable motorsport intent.

Finished in Monza Red metallic, the concept combines visual drama with lightweight materials. Natural-fiber components appear throughout the splitter, diffuser, hood vent, roof, and side aerodynamic elements. M Yellow lighting accents further reinforce the racing connection, while aerodynamically optimized mirrors and center-lock wheels complete the competition-inspired look.

The stance tells its own story. A wider track, lowered suspension, and noticeable negative camber suggest that BMW’s engineers are still obsessed with handling—even if the soundtrack now comes from electric motors rather than a straight-six.

Race-Car Interior, Road-Car Technology

Inside, the M Concept Neue Klasse shares much of its architecture with BMW’s upcoming Neue Klasse models. The panoramic iDrive display stretches across the base of the windshield, while the minimalist dashboard layout reflects BMW’s next-generation design philosophy.

Everything else screams M.

Four deeply sculpted bucket seats trimmed in Merino leather feature integrated five-point harnesses. Structural components made from natural fibers remain visible throughout the cabin, emphasizing weight reduction and rigidity. A Nubuck-trimmed roll cage extends through the interior, matching the steering wheel and door panels.

The dashboard is wrapped in a black illuminated woven material, while red accents and bespoke controls distinguish the concept from its more mainstream Neue Klasse siblings. It feels less like a luxury sedan and more like a road-going touring car that somehow retained a license plate.

Four Motors, Four Digits of Horsepower

The real story lies underneath.

Power comes from BMW’s new four-motor M eDrive system, developed specifically for future high-performance electric M models and built upon the sixth-generation Neue Klasse architecture.

BMW isn’t revealing official output figures yet, but reports suggest the production car could generate anywhere between 710 and 1,014 horsepower. If accurate, even the least powerful version would comfortably eclipse today’s M3 Competition, while the upper end would place it firmly in supercar territory.

The concept’s reported torque figure—17,990 Nm—sounds almost absurd, though as with many EV concepts, that number likely represents wheel torque rather than a conventional engine-output measurement.

More important than the raw numbers is how BMW intends to deploy them.

The company says power management is handled by its new M Dynamic Performance Control system, operating through what BMW calls the “Heart of Joy” central computing platform. The setup continuously controls power delivery and braking at each individual wheel, promising unprecedented levels of agility, precision, and responsiveness.

In other words, BMW isn’t merely trying to build a fast electric sedan. It’s trying to build an electric M car that still behaves like an M car.

Bigger Battery, Faster Charging

Supporting all that performance is BMW’s new 800-volt electrical architecture and a battery pack exceeding 100 kWh in capacity.

The battery utilizes sixth-generation cylindrical cells developed specifically for M applications, allowing higher power delivery, improved thermal management, faster charging speeds, and greater driving range. BMW has also integrated the battery structure directly into the vehicle’s chassis, increasing rigidity and contributing to sharper handling characteristics.

It’s a familiar strategy among modern EVs, but one that becomes particularly important when attempting to make a heavy electric sedan feel as precise as a traditional sports car.

The End of the M3? Not Quite

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of BMW’s strategy is that the electric M3 won’t replace the gasoline version—at least not immediately.

Industry reports indicate BMW is simultaneously developing a next-generation combustion-powered M3 featuring a mild-hybrid inline-six engine. That car is expected to adopt Neue Klasse-inspired styling and technology while continuing to serve buyers who aren’t ready to leave internal combustion behind.

For the first time in the M3’s history, enthusiasts may soon have a choice between two fundamentally different interpretations of the same icon: one powered by a turbocharged straight-six and the other by four electric motors.

It’s a fascinating moment for BMW M. The company isn’t abandoning its past, but it’s clearly preparing for a future where performance is measured as much in software and electrical architecture as it is in displacement and boost pressure.

Whether enthusiasts ultimately accept the electric version as a true M3 remains to be seen. But based on what BMW showed at Le Mans, one thing is already clear: the most technologically ambitious M car ever built is getting ready to hit the road.

Source: BMW

NEW CARS

New Denza Z Combines 1,582bhp with Four-Seat Practicality

For decades, the world’s fastest grand tourers have arrived wearing familiar badges. Ferrari. Porsche. Aston Martin. Maserati. Even newcomers like Rimac have spent years earning credibility before asking six-figure buyers to take them seriously.

Now comes the Denza Z, a Chinese-built electric super-GT with 1,582 horsepower, a claimed 0–62 mph time of less than two seconds, and enough ambition to challenge Europe’s establishment on its own turf.

And perhaps most surprisingly, it’s heading to Europe before it goes on sale at home.

Fresh regulatory filings in China have revealed the full scale of Denza’s flagship performance machine, confirming figures that place it firmly in hypercar territory. The BYD-owned luxury brand’s new halo model produces a staggering 1,582 horsepower from a tri-motor electric powertrain, matching the sort of output once reserved for seven-figure exotics.

The numbers are predictably outrageous. Denza claims the Z will blast from 0 to 62 mph in under 2.0 seconds—putting it in the same conversation as the Rimac Nevera—and newly disclosed specifications reveal a top speed of 217 mph.

Not bad for a four-seat convertible.

Heavyweight Performance

The catch, if there is one, comes on the scales.

The soft-top version tips the balance at 5,842 pounds (2,650 kilograms), while the hard-roof model shaves that figure down slightly to 5,688 pounds (2,580 kilograms). Those are substantial numbers even in the EV era, though Denza clearly believes overwhelming power can compensate for excess mass.

Customers seeking maximum performance will be able to specify a sport package featuring a prominent rear wing. Beyond adding visual drama, the package unlocks the car’s full 217-mph capability. Standard models are electronically limited to a still-ridiculous 186 mph.

Designed by a Familiar Hand

While the badge may be new to many enthusiasts, the styling comes from a designer with impeccable credentials.

The Z was penned by Wolfgang Egger, whose résumé includes iconic work at Alfa Romeo, including the stunning 8C Competizione. The production car remains remarkably faithful to the concept first shown in Beijing, retaining its smooth bodywork, low nose, and cab-forward proportions.

The result is less aggressively futuristic than many modern EVs and more reminiscent of a traditional European grand tourer—an intentional move for a car targeting buyers accustomed to established luxury brands.

A Rare EV That Still Has Buttons

Inside, Denza appears to have resisted the temptation to bury every function inside a touchscreen.

The concept’s cabin featured a surprising number of physical controls, including what appear to be dedicated switches for drive modes and suspension settings. A squared-off steering wheel, exposed carbon-fiber trim, and bucket seats reinforce the performance focus, while the 2+2 seating layout positions the Z as a genuine grand tourer rather than a stripped-out track special.

It’s an approach that feels refreshingly old-school in a segment increasingly dominated by minimalist interiors and touchscreen overload.

Hypercar Technology Underneath

The headline power figure is only part of the story.

The Z employs a sophisticated three-motor setup with one electric motor driving the front axle and two powering the rear. It also receives steer-by-wire technology and BYD’s advanced DiSus-M magnetorheological suspension system, borrowed from the wild Yangwang U9 hypercar.

That suspension can continuously adjust damping characteristics based on upcoming road conditions, effectively preparing the chassis before it encounters bumps or surface changes.

Whether the Z will inherit the U9’s attention-grabbing ability to hop into the air remains unknown. As entertaining as that feature may be, European GT buyers are likely to care more about ride quality at 150 mph than party tricks in a parking lot.

Europe First, China Later

Perhaps the most telling detail isn’t found in the specifications sheet.

Denza plans to launch the Z in Europe before introducing it to Chinese customers, a bold strategy that reveals exactly who this car is targeting. The company clearly sees the continent’s premium GT market as the ultimate proving ground for its luxury ambitions.

It’s a daring move. European buyers have historically been loyal to domestic performance brands, and convincing them to spend supercar money on a relatively unknown Chinese nameplate won’t be easy.

Still, performance figures have a way of attracting attention.

The Price Question

Denza hasn’t revealed pricing, but the closest competitor on paper is arguably Maserati’s GranTurismo Folgore, which starts at roughly £180,000.

The Chinese brand may attempt to undercut that figure to accelerate market acceptance, though the Z will inevitably command a significant premium over the upcoming Denza Z9 GT, itself expected to start around £100,000.

If Denza can combine its extraordinary performance, advanced technology, and potentially aggressive pricing into a genuinely polished grand tourer, Europe’s established luxury manufacturers may have a new problem on their hands.

The numbers suggest the Denza Z is already capable of embarrassing some of the world’s fastest cars.

Now it has to prove it can be more than just a spec sheet hero.

Source: Autocar

NEW CARS

Mercedes-AMG Unveils 1,169-HP Electric GT 4-Door Coupe

The Mercedes-AMG era of thunderous V8s and tire-smoking excess isn’t dead—it’s just been plugged in. With the unveiling of the new Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe, AMG has fired its loudest shot yet in the rapidly escalating EV horsepower war, and the numbers are almost absurd: up to 1,169 horsepower, 2,000 Nm of torque, and enough charging speed to make today’s EVs look prehistoric.

At first glance, the new GT 4-Door Coupe barely resembles the gasoline-powered AMG GT models that came before it. Instead, this electric flagship takes heavy inspiration from the wild AMG GT XX Concept, trading long-hood aggression for a smoother, more futuristic silhouette shaped as much by airflow as by aesthetics. The result is sleek rather than brutal, but still unmistakably AMG.

The front fascia is dominated by an illuminated closed grille flanked by headlights connected through a full-width LED strip, while the rear features one of the most distinctive light signatures AMG has ever attempted—three glowing elements on each side, sitting beneath another horizontal light bar. It looks more concept car than production sedan, and that’s entirely the point.

AMG engineers obsessed over aerodynamics here, and it shows. Active aero elements beneath the bodywork constantly adjust airflow, while even the 19- to 21-inch wheels are sculpted for efficiency. The payoff is a remarkably slippery drag coefficient of just 0.22, a figure that puts the big AMG in genuine EV hyper-sedan territory.

Inside, the GT 4-Door Coupe abandons nearly every trace of analog simplicity. Screens dominate the cabin. A 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster sits ahead of the driver, while twin 14-inch displays stretch across the dashboard—one for infotainment and another dedicated to the front passenger. It’s dramatic, expensive-looking, and exactly what buyers in this segment now expect.

Still, AMG hasn’t forgotten performance theatrics. Three rotary controllers mounted on the center console operate the new AMG Race Engineer interface, allowing drivers to tweak throttle response, chassis behavior, grip settings, and cornering characteristics with race-car-like precision. There’s also enough luxury to remind you this thing is still a grand tourer: leather-covered sports seats, carbon-fiber trim, dual wireless phone charging, illuminated cupholders, and a panoramic “Sky Control” glass roof that can switch from transparent to opaque at the touch of a button while projecting AMG graphics overhead.

Practicality? Surprisingly decent. The rear hatch opens to reveal 507 liters of cargo space—enough for weekend luggage, golf bags, or perhaps the emotional baggage of traditional AMG fans still mourning naturally aspirated engines.

Then come the numbers.

The entry-level AMG GT 55 uses a triple-motor axial-flux setup producing 816 horsepower and a colossal 1,800 Nm of torque. AMG claims a 0–100 km/h sprint in 2.8 seconds and a 300-km/h top speed with the optional Drivers Package.

But the real headline belongs to the AMG GT 63. Its three electric motors unleash 1,169 horsepower and 2,000 Nm, enough to catapult the four-door coupe to 100 km/h in just 2.4 seconds. Top speed remains electronically capped at 300 km/h, though the limiting factor may be physics—or bravery.

Both models use a 106-kWh battery pack capable of delivering up to 700 kilometers of WLTP range. More impressive is the charging capability: the system supports up to 600 kW charging speeds, allowing approximately 460 kilometers of range to be added in just 10 minutes under ideal conditions. If real-world infrastructure catches up, this could become one of the first EVs that genuinely makes charging stops feel irrelevant.

And because AMG knows silence alone won’t satisfy loyalists, the company has created AMGFORCE Sport+, a drive mode that synthesizes the sound of a roaring V8 both inside and outside the vehicle. Purists will roll their eyes. Customers will probably love it.

Additional drive modes include Comfort, Sport, Race, Slippery, Individual, and—for the first time ever in an AMG model—Eco mode. Yes, an AMG with an Eco button. Welcome to 2026.

Production begins this summer at Mercedes’ Sindelfingen plant, with pricing still under wraps. Expect it to land deep in six-figure territory and squarely against rivals like the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT and Lucid Air Sapphire.

Whether enthusiasts are ready or not, AMG’s electric future has arrived—and it’s faster than almost anything wearing an AMG badge before it.

Source: Mercedes-Benz