No BMW iM3, but other promises

Will we soon see BMW M models branded with the distinctive “i” mark of the German automaker’s electric range?

Earlier this week, BMW filed the names and acronyms “iM3,” opening the door to a future electric version of the legendary Motorsport M lineup. The combination of the “i” and “M” badges would theoretically suggest a supercharged electric vehicle, but BMW M boss Frank van Meel quickly dampened fans’ electric hopes and reassured die-hard combustion engine enthusiasts.

In an interview with our colleagues at Top Gear, van Meel stated that the company would “never” use the i and M badges together on the same vehicle. “No, it’s impossible,” he affirms. “In fact, we would never put an i on an M model, even if it’s electric.”

The door remains wide open for a high-performance electric vehicle proudly bearing an M badge. BMW simply chooses not to risk upsetting its customer base by mixing genres. The backlash following the discontinuation of the fabulous atmospheric inline-six on certain M models served as a lesson. “If we ever develop a sporty electric model, we will gladly and proudly badge it M, but without i,” confirms van Meel. “Because it’s just technology, and M is not a matter of technology. It’s a promise, it’s motorsport, it’s emotions. It’s not about the powertrain.”

BMW already has four electric vehicles labeled M – the iX M60, the i4 M50, the i5 M60, and the i7 M70. The brand has also launched the BMW Neue Klasse electric platform meant to create a high-performance electric vehicle with four motors. But it will never be called iM3.

READ ALSO: The prices of the new BMW iX2