BMW M3 is one of the sportiest and most desirable road cars a petrolhead aspires to own. However with increasing strangulation of combustion cars around the world, especially in Europe, car manufacturers have no other choice but to look towards an electric future. And the same is about to happen to its beloved M3.
The Bavarian automaker has teased a fully camouflaged testing prototype on social media which is believed to take the shape of an all-electric equivalent of the M3 in the future. Called the Vision Driving Experience, this prototype first broke cover earlier in February this year and has been subjected to wide criticisms from traditional motorists.
The upcoming M-branded Neu Klasse EV concept has been at the receiving end of the online trolling. Although fully camouflaged, it is very clear that BMW is moving towards a new direction when it comes to design with the Neu Klasse range of EVs. Recently, BMW posted fresh images of the camouflaged EV prototype which hasn’t exactly been welcomed with open arms.
BMW M3 Electric faces online heat
Comments from the recent posts suggest that users aren’t particularly impressed with the new design of the EV. While BMW’s oversized kidney grille in recent years has been subjected to wide criticism, the new sleeker faux grille in the concept EV hasn’t found many takers as well. The other contentious part is its rear design with an LED taillight stripe housed within the boot lid spoiler.
Also, the rear bumper integrates an oversized faux diffusor which doesn’t sit well with the design. Moreover, the front of the concept sits very low, as a sports sedan should, the rear end is much more upright and sits far higher than it needs to. Petrolheads have taken offence to this new design and posted negative feedback on social media handles.
One Instagram user said, “ BMW is getting ruined”. Another commented, “This car is shit”. Another user conceded that the old design is better than the upcoming Neu Klasse design language. The list of negative comments is endless in the comments section. That said, some have supported the brand with some encouraging comments.
BMW is tightlipped about the specifications of this model since it is still at a concept stage. The final production model is still some time away from making its debut and could be very different from the concept model. The upcoming M3 will be available in both combustion engine and fully-electric avatars. If the ICE version of the upcoming M3 also has to get a similar design, it may open to polarising opinions.
BMW M3 powertrain specs
BMW M3 was on sale in India until last year, with the last recorded price of Rs 1.30 crore (ex-showroom). Based on the 3-Series sedan, the last M3 was powered by a 3-litre twin-turbo V6 which churned out a mammoth 444 bhp and 550 Nm of peak torque. Power was transferred to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission.
