BMW has been working on an electric performance car with four motors for some time. They have shared images of a prototype based on the i4 M50, and it has also been spotted by spies during testing. BMW intends to introduce its first fully-electric M car in the second half of the decade, with plans for an electric M3, according to Frank Weber, the Head of Development at BMW.

However, the future M3 and a potential X3 M without a traditional combustion engine may not necessarily feature a four-motor, all-wheel-drive setup. Frank van Meel, the CEO of BMW’s M division, revealed in an interview with Ars Technica that they are also considering a rear-wheel-drive setup with dual motors. While an xDrive-equipped electric M car would offer superior acceleration, opting for a rear-wheel-drive configuration would make the cars lighter and potentially more enjoyable to drive.