BMW recently filed a trademark for the name “iM3,” which combines their electric “i” and performance “M” badges, suggesting a potential hot EV. However, BMW M boss Frank van Meel has refuted these rumors.

In an interview with Top Gear, van Meel firmly stated that the company would “never” use i and M badges together on the same vehicle, describing it as “Mission Impossible!” He emphasized that even if the vehicle were electric, the company would not combine the i and M badges.

Despite this, van Meel noted that a performance EV with a pure M badge could potentially be developed, emphasizing that it would be called an M without an i. He explained that the M badge is not about technology, but rather about a promise, motorsports, and emotion.

While the iM3 may not come to fruition, BMW already has four M-badged EVs – the iX M60, i4 M50, i5 M60, and i7 M70. Additionally, the company unveiled a quad-motor performance prototype in 2022 based on the BMW Neue Klasse electric platform. This electric platform is likely to spawn a performance EV, even if it won’t bear the name iM3.

Motor1 has reached out to BMW USA for a comment and will provide updates accordingly.