KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 — BMW has confirmed that the i3 M60 xDrive will arrive in 2027, bringing an M Performance option to its new fully electric 3 Series lineup.

With twin electric motors, Gen6 M eDrive technology and a preliminary WLTP-rated range of up to 830km, could this be a new rival for the Tesla Model 3 Performance?

At the moment, BMW hasn’t revealed its power output or acceleration figures just yet. However, it has shown the design and a combination of M-specific driving controls, steering-wheel paddles and design tweaks to set the M60 apart from the regular i3.

BMW i3 M60 gets Gen6 M eDrive and Heart of Joy

The BMW i3 M60 xDrive features a twin-motor electric powertrain with Gen6 M eDrive technology. Working alongside it are BMW’s Heart of Joy computer and BMW M Dynamic Performance Control, which coordinates the car’s driving responses with ultra-low latency.

Beyond a quicker sprint time, we’d expect the new setup to deliver more precise power delivery and improved handling compared to the “regular” i3 50 xDrive.

Being an electric M Performance model, the i3 M60 also gets steering-wheel paddles that allow the driver to adjust the electric powertrain’s responses.

For context, the regular i3 50 xDrive already produces 345kW (462hp) and 645Nm, enabling a 0-100km/h time of 4.7 seconds. It also offers a 108.7kWh usable battery, up to 912km of WLTP-rated range and up to 400kW DC fast charging.

Despite being a more performance-oriented EV, it still appears to be a capable long distance cruiser. While the battery and charging specs have yet to be revealed, BMW has indicated a preliminary maximum range of up to 830km WLTP for the i3 M60 xDrive.

M Yellow Lights and exclusive 21-inch wheels

The i3 M60 xDrive gets its own front “M” lighting graphic on the central “grille”, complemented by BMW’s new M Yellow Lights. These are also offered on the petrol-powered BMW M350 xDrive.

At the rear, it also gets a different tail light design, similar to the M350.

Also offered are exclusive 21-inch Style 1067M aerodynamic wheels along with red brake callipers.

The i3 M60 isn’t the electric M3

The M60 won’t be the peak of BMW’s electric 3 Series performance lineup. This is still an M Performance model and there’s the upcoming first-ever fully electric M3 to take things further.

BMW has teased repeatedly that its next generation of fully electric high-performance M3 will feature quad-motors, with one driving each whee. It is expected to deliver a combined power output of over 800hp.

Together with M-specific Heart of Joy control software, the system can manage power and torque individually at each corner. It can even disconnect the front axle for a pure RWD driving mode.

Spiritual successor to the BMW i4 M60?

While we wait for the i3 M60’s performance figures, the BMW i4 M60 xDrive provides us with an idea of what to expect from an electric M Performance model.

The i4 M60, which wasn’t officially offered in Malaysia, features a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup producing up to 442kW (592hp) and 795Nm. With Sport Boost, it accelerates from 0-100km/h in 3.7 seconds and reaches an electronically limited top speed of 225km/h.

For our market, we had the BMW i4 M50 xDrive which was launched from RM430,000 back in 2023. It offers 400kW (536hp) of power and 795Nm of torque, capable of a 0-100km/h time of 3.9 seconds. It had an electronically limited top speed of 225km/h.

With the new i3 M60, we expect comparable or improved performance, potentially with quicker acceleration. As a comparison, the Tesla Model 3 Performance has a listed 0-100km/h time of 3.1 seconds and a top speed of 261km/h.

The BMW i3 M60 xDrive is scheduled to debut in 2027. So far there’s no indicative pricing and availability details for the BMW i3 lineup in Malaysia. — SoyaCincau