BMW M News: Electric M3 Concept & G90 M5 Spy

It's been a busy week for anyone who cares about where BMW M is heading. The electric M3 concept got its China debut, the G90 M5 facelift was caught testing, and the Bimmerpost crowd is arguing about whether SUVs are carrying the brand. Here's what we actually found, with sources, and what it means if you're driving a current M car.

M Concept Neue Klasse Hits Shanghai

At the 2026 BMW M Festival at Shanghai International Circuit on October 11, BMW M CEO Frank van Meel and design chief Oliver Heilmer presented the M Concept Neue Klasse's Chinese debut. It premiered at Le Mans in June and made its North American debut at Monterey Car Week in August.

What BMW has confirmed on the hardware:

• Four electric motors (M eDrive), one per wheel, with independent control at each corner
• An 800-volt system and a battery above 100 kWh using sixth-generation cylindrical cells
• xDrive as standard, with a front-axle disconnect for pure rear-wheel drive
• Natural-fiber composite in place of carbon fiber on several exterior parts, plus a ducktail spoiler

Power figures are not official. Reports point to 800 hp or more for the production electric M3 (codename ZA0), due in 2027 and built in Munich. The same report says a combustion M3, the six-cylinder G84, isn't expected before 2028, and that G80 production has reportedly been extended to mid-2027.

What That Means for G8X Owners

If the G80 stays in production into mid-2027 and the next combustion M3 is 2028 at the earliest, the G8X is the current-generation inline-six M3/M4 for a good while yet. That's good news for values and for the aftermarket. Brakes, cooling and exhaust parts for the S58 aren't going obsolete soon. If you're planning a build, our G80/G82/G83 M3 and M4 parts collection is the place to start.

G90 M5 Facelift Spied at the Nürburgring

Camouflaged prototypes were spotted testing at the Nürburgring. The update looks conservative: the split kidney grilles stay (unlike the unified treatment on the new 3 Series), and the taillights look thicker than the smaller sedan's. The charge port on the driver's-side front fender confirms the M5 stays a plug-in hybrid with the twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 and an eight-speed automatic.

BMW hasn't said what changes mechanically. In Europe, the V8 was detuned to meet Euro 7 with the combined output unchanged, because the electric motor is now stronger. The reveal is expected in 2027 as a 2028 model, with the M5 Touring getting the same updates, and an M5 CS possible alongside it. All of that is spy-shot reporting, not an official announcement.

For current G90 owners, nothing here makes your car obsolete. Heat is the usual weak point on a heavy hybrid V8, so cooling is the first area we'd look at; see the G90/G99 M5 cooling range.

On Bimmerpost: Q3 Sales and the SUV Debate

BMW North America posted Q3 2026 sales of 100,210 vehicles, up 3.4%, with 287,154 year to date (up 4.3%). Plug-in hybrids rose 23.2% in the quarter while overall electrified sales fell 24.9%. The Bimmerpost thread has no M-specific numbers, but the reaction is telling. One poster argued X5 and X6 make up nearly half of sales; another said halo M cars build the loyalty that sells those SUVs; one owner worried that fewer two-door gas cars could cost BMW his loyalty.

That anxiety is also why the used and aftermarket M market is healthy: plenty of owners would rather keep and improve what they have. Browse everything in BMW M Parts if that's you.

FAQ

When does the electric BMW M3 arrive?

Reports put the production car (codename ZA0) in 2027, built in Munich. BMW hasn't announced official power figures.

Is the G90 M5 getting a facelift?

Prototypes have been spotted at the Nürburgring, and a reveal is expected in 2027 as a 2028 model. BMW has not confirmed details.

Will there still be a gas-powered M3?

Reporting says a combustion model, the six-cylinder G84, will follow, but not before 2028.

Keep your M car sharp while the future sorts itself out: shop the G90/G99 M5 parts collection.