BMW is within the strategy of electrifying its complete lineup. It’s secure to imagine, then, that the M3, its flagship sports activities sedan, will lose its inside combustion engine within the close to future. Indeed, that appears to have been the plan not way back, nonetheless now a report from BMW Blog signifies some modifications behind the scenes. A brand new ICE M3 is reportedly on the best way, and it’ll exist alongside an electrical mannequin.

There’s numerous attention-grabbing particulars in BMW Blog’s report. It claims the electrical and ICE M3 will reportedly not share a platform, as an example. The report additionally says the M4 coupe may also allegedly be electrical solely. In different phrases, the sedan could be the solely choice for individuals who need straight-six energy.

The plan, says BMW Blog, is to make use of the present 3.0-liter S58 engine for the subsequent automobile, as it is going to nonetheless be emissions-compliant. This means energy output within the neighborhood of 500 horsepower or extra, however it’s not possible the brand new automobile can have a guide transmission. BMW M’s brass appears wanting to do away with pesky clutch pedals as soon as they can.

BMW has shown us a quad-motor electric M car earlier than, however we have heard nothing since a brief teaser was launched a number of months in the past. At that point, it was probably that the German automaker thought this could be the solely drivetrain supplied in a possible new M3, nonetheless decreased regulatory stress has reportedly modified the image.

Several nations have pushed again ICE bans, and stringent emissions rules have been hit with loopholes or watered down solely. The European Union carved out a provision that enables ICE automobiles to be powered by synthetic fuels, as an example. It’s additionally been reported that upcoming EPA rules have been in the reduction of following stress from the automotive trade.

With all of this in thoughts it is sensible BMW will nonetheless supply an ICE-powered M3, particularly if it is utilizing the identical engine as the present technology. All of this must be taken with a grain of salt, after all, however it might imply that inside combustion’s relevance, at the least by way of efficiency automobiles, might final nicely into the 2030s.