BMW’s iconic M3 could become a hybrid with the option of a plug-in powertrain, according to an online report.
American automotive site The Detroit Bureau states that according to an unnamed senior executive from BMW’s M division, it’s looking to blend technology from the BMW i brand.
This follows on from the news last week that the manufacturer’s new CEO, Harald Krueger, told a German newspaper that it’s keen to expand the capabilities of its electric and hybrid range.
Although Kreuger’s comments were believed to have alluded to a possible addition to the BMW i range alongside the i3 and i8, a hybrid M3 could make sense given carmakers’ general direction towards green technology.
It is reportedly BMW’s goal to satisfy performance fans by adding more power while also helping the M3 meet increasingly stringent emissions and fuel economy standards.
“We have to go that way,” said Ludwig Willisch, CEO of BMW North America, despite the move being likely controversial with both BMW performance fans and buyers.
The Detroit Bureau claims that the hybrid M3 would use the same 3.0-litre inline-six engine as the current version, with power directed to the rear wheels just as the majority of regular BMW.
However, it’s also claimed that an electric motor would be used to power the front wheels, meaning that the future M3 could not only be hybrid-powered, but also come with flexible four-wheel drive.
As well as being able to drive the M3 purely on electric power, the BMW M insider claimed that electrically-driven front wheels would also offer torque vectoring to enhance cornering stability.
Taking further lessons from the success of the i3 and i8 models, the hybrid M3 would also make extensive use of carbon fibre to offset the additional weight of the lithium-ion battery packs.
That said, given that the latest version of the BMW M3 was released only last year, it’s currently unknown when a possible hybrid version could surface, though it’s not expected until around 2020.
