World toh tab bhi khatam nahi hua tha jab BMW ne first time ek front-wheel drive minivan launch ki thi, almost 10 years ago. Aur jab 3 series ko three-cylinder engine mila, tab bhi koi apocalypse nahi aaya. Pretty sure hai ki hum uss din bhi survive kar lenge jab M division apna phela production model bina combustion engine ke launch karegi. Tab tak, yeh sab official hota nahi, ek new spy video humein thoda sa idea de deti hai ki kya expect karna chahiye.
BMW nearly 4 years se electric M performance cars sell kar rahi hai, but abhi tak full-fat M performance EV launch nahi hui. Spain ke Tenerife se aayi ek video basically M ke electric future ka sneak peek deti hai. YouTube channel NCars ne kuch camouflaged prototype spot kiye hai, jinmein se kuch dekhne mein same silent M3 or X3 M jaise lag rahe the.
Two cars maybe "i" branding skip karengi, maybe BMW ka yeh method hai dikhane ka ki yeh first M cars hai, and electric later. but BMW ko phir bhi M3 EV ko uske petrol wale version se clearly separate karne ka koi method figure out karna hoga. Ek or sports sedan with an inline-six cylinder engine already confirm ho chuki hai, and chances bahut kam hai ki BMW Both of the versions electric or combustion ko same nomenclature means (same name) de. X3 M ke case mein yeh problem nahi hogi. because uss model ki petrol-powered generation plan hi nahi hai.
Image Courtesy: Ncars YouTube Channel
Both M3 or X3 M ke prototypes dekhne mein aise lag rahe hai ki unhone final production body ko extra camouflage ke under hide kar diya hai, so that pata hi na chale ki kya yeh prototype hai ya final production version. Test cars ke headlights bhi almost final lag rahe hai, but production taillights sirf SUV mein hai. wo bhi regular iX3 se hi liya gaya lagta hai. rear ke bumper kaafi awkwardly bahar nikle hue lagte hai, maybe disguise ki extra layering ki wajah se and that's the reason yeh sochne par majboor kar deta hai ki BMW ne back end ko itna bulky kyun bana diya.
Agar aap wheels or tyres size ke baare mein curious ho, toh M3 EV ke rear mein 20-inch alloys lage the, jinpe 295/35 ZR20 wale fat tyres wrapped the. X3 M ke front mein 21-inch wheels dikh rahe the, 275/35 ZR21 tyres ke saath. Both of the cars par front or rear dono sides pe drilled brake rotors the. crossover se expected hai ki powers all of the 4 wheels ko offer ki jayegi, whereas sedan maybe initially rear-wheel drive hi hogi.
Image Courtesy: Ncars YouTube Channel
"Abhi exact output numbers available nahi hai, but logically both models iX3 50 xDrive ke 470hp se kafi zyada power denge. Around 700hp bhi unrealistic nahi lagta, especially because BMW ko standard models or full-on M versions ke beech M performance launch karna hoga.
Rumours yeh hai ki iX3 M60 approx. 620hp ki power degi, toh X3 M toh usse bhi zyada powerful hogi. aur because yeh all-wheel-drive crossover sedan wale rear-wheel-drive setup se zyada motors use karegi, chances hai ki yeh electric M3 ko bhi power mein beat kar degi.
Image Courtesy: Ncars YouTube Channel
Some prototypes dikha rahe hai ki next-gen 3 series sedan combustion engines ke saath bhi aayegi. Despite the camouflage, clearly dikh raha hai petrol or diesel test cars ka look electric M3 se kaafi similar hai. BMW phele hi announce kar chuki hai ki future ICE or EV models ek hi Neue Klasse design language follow karenge, chahe unke platforms different hi kyu na ho. Actually, electric M3 woh CLAR architecture use nahi karegi jo six-cylinder M3 mein hota hai.
Ek test car mein quad exhaust tips dikh rahe hai, but this is not M3. Yeh basically future M performance hai, jise reportedly M340i se rebrand karke M350 bola jayega. Isme six-cylinder engine hi rahega or expect kiya ja raha hai ki updated "B58" engine se yeh 400+ hp dega. Full-fat M3 apna "S58" engine hi rakhegi, maybe mild-hybrid setup ke saath, 500+ horsepower ke ass-pass. aur ho sakta hai ki yeh sirf automatic transmission or xDrive ke saath hi aaye.
Jo bhi prototypes ab tak dekhe gaye hai, unmein first 3 Series aa rahi hai. Yeh next year launch hogi, i3 sedan ke thodi der baad. Electric M3 or X3 M ke baare mein sunne mein aa rahi hai ki woh 2027 mein aayegi, or sabse pehle sedan hi expected hai. Aur jo pehle wala petrol-powered M3 tha, woh maybe 2028 mein launch hoga, bas abhi inn cars ke bare mein yehi details hai.
Image Courtesy: Ncars YouTube Channel
Image Courtesy: Ncars YouTube Channel
News Courtesy: Motor1