BMW’s First Electric iX3 M Is Shaping Up to Be a Proper M Car

The first-ever iteration of a new variant in the automotive world needs to be good to win over its intended target base, and based on what we know so far, the first BMW iX3 M will be seriously impressive and do the M Division proud. Spied in Northern Sweden, undergoing winter testing, this development mule for the 2027 iX3 M is showing off aggressive bodywork, beefy brakes, and a sporty cabin, and insiders say it'll have loads of power, sharing its basic setup with the first-ever electric M3 sedan. We'll discuss all those details momentarily, but let's start with the cosmetics. After all, the Pontiac Aztek was a brilliant car with remarkable versatility, but it was widely shunned for quirky, if not downright ugly, looks.

2027 BMW iX3 M Will Look the Part

Of course, beauty is subjective, and although we're not suggesting that the new iX3 M will look anything as unresolved as the Aztek, we do concede that EVs often look awkward. Fortunately, the electric M crossover starts with a strong base, building on the already-revealed iX3's Neue Klasse design language with subtle enhancements. The bumpers on this prototype are placeholder items, so we can't determine how aggressive they'll look for final production, but M-specific mirrors, drilled brake discs with blue calipers, and a roof spoiler with sharper strakes all follow a familiar recipe that makes a sport impact. An M-pact, if you will. Sorry. Like the bumpers, the wheels on his test mule will be replaced with sportier items, and according to an insider's publications on the Bimmer Post forums, unique headlights with "distinctive color elements" may find their way to M-enhanced vehicles. This may mean yellow DRLs, like all CS models since the F90 M5 (with the exception of the latest, the G87 M2). Just as critical as the exterior styling is how the cabin feels, and our spies got a look at that, too.

First-Ever iX3 M Steering Into True M Territory

Admittedly, we're still some way from a reveal because BMW engineers have been told to keep sheets of fabric draped over most of the cabin, but the area above the 9- and 3-o'clock spokes on the steering wheel is conspicuous in its attempts to hide what lies beneath. A hint of red peers from under the fabric tape, confirming that the iX3 M will have M1 and M2 buttons for storing a driver's optimal suspension, throttle, steering, and sound selections. The tricolor stitching of the wheel is also commonplace in an M vehicle, and we can see paddles behind the wheel for simulating gear shifts, like in a Hyundai Ioniq 6 N. Well-bolstered seats (with tape over the M logo) will provide comfort and support, but we wouldn't be surprised to see more aggressive buckets offered as an option.

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As for the powertrain components of the iX3 M, these will be shared with the upcoming electric M3 sedan (internally codenamed ZA0). That means four motors with torque vectoring, and potentially as much as 800 horsepower on tap (though far more is possible). We'll learn more as the camouflage is peeled off and more details are leaked throughout the year, with a full reveal likely to come at the end of 2026.

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