The Next BMW M3 Will Have a ‘New Type’ of Gas Engine

There’s been plenty of speculation surrounding the next BMW M3. We know it will be electric, with an 800-volt architecture delivering upwards of 700 horsepower. But BMW will also build a gas-powered version alongside the EV, and new details tell us exactly what might power it.

BMW Neue Klasse boss Dr. Mike Reichelt sat down with Top Gear to share more details on the upcoming M3. Reichelt said that, not only will this next M3 be the “best M car ever dynamically,” but it will have a gas engine unique from the current model.

“We’re also going to offer [the M3] with a new type of six-cylinder engine,” Reichelt noted, “because we understand it may be early for some committed M fans to make the switch [to EVs]. But we are convinced the fully electric M3 is going to hit new heights and reach new target groups, because it’ll behave completely differently.”

The current BMW M3 uses an S58 twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, which makes up to 523 horsepower in its most powerful spec. There’s reason to believe this “new” six-cylinder engine could be a hybridized version of the current S58, but we won’t know until we see it. That said, it should be significantly more powerful than the current version, potentially matching the 700 hp expected in the all-electric variant.

And if you were worried about BMW taking the Mercedes-Benz route and downsizing its performance engines, don’t be. The company has already said it would be “really difficult to downsize” to a four-cylinder engine in the M3.

The next M3 will also introduce BMW’s new “Heart of Joy” performance control unit, previewed on the Vision Driving Experience concept. The Heart of Joy system integrates controls for the drivetrain, braking, energy recuperation, charging, and steering into one unit that processes information 10 times faster than previous systems. In short, BMW promises “exceptional precision.”

Photo by: Motor1 Argentina

Reichelt emphasizes the importance of dynamics in the all-electric M3, not just straight-line performance:

“It’s no longer about making a car that has the fastest 0-62mph time,” he tells Top Gear, “but rather a car that offers precise dynamics. That’s what our control unit does; you go into a bend with a certain steering angle and don’t need to make corrections mid-corner.”

So, when will we see this new inline-six in action? The Neue Klasse BMW 3 Series is expected to debut sometime this year before going on sale early in 2026, while the M3 won’t show up at least until the following year. Expect it on sale late in 2026 or early in 2027.