BMW unveils high-performance electric saloon with 900bhp and quad motors

German car manufacturer BMW is expected to unveil a new high-performance model at this week's 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Recently, BMW's official social media channels have released a teaser video showing the moment a vehicle with dynamic body volume is unveiled, capturing the attention of BMW fans.

The vehicle BMW will reveal at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is highly likely to be a prototype of the next-generation M3 (codenamed ZA0) equipped with a pure electric powertrain. It is a high-performance electric model featuring no fewer than four electric motors.

BMW has previously stated that it was difficult to share body components between the pure electric M3 and the existing internal combustion engine M3. This is because testing the high-performance electric M3 prototype at the Nürburgring circuit in Germany revealed that the powerful output placed strain on the body structure and key underbody components. BMW has tested the new pure electric M3 for over 8,000 kilometres at the Nürburgring.

As with the body components, the tyres capable of withstanding the power output are also being newly developed. The torque generated by the quad motor must be transmitted to the road surface while also handling the electronic control at each wheel, placing high demands on the tyres. To this end, BMW is collaborating with Pirelli to jointly develop 'P Zero' tyres optimised for 20-inch dedicated wheels. BMW and Pirelli are currently conducting final tests and selection processes on 12 different compounds.

In terms of the battery, a lithium-ion battery pack of over 100kWh is virtually certain. As the sixth-generation model based on BMW's next-generation electric vehicle platform, 'Neue Klasse', it is expected to be equipped with a dedicated cooling system to prevent battery overheating during circuit driving and ensure consistent power output.

In the front-end design, hidden under wraps, yellow daytime running lights catch the eye. This design element is identical to the headlamps of the 'BMW M Hybrid V8' hypercar, which caused a stir by securing pole position in qualifying for this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, symbolising BMW M's motorsport DNA. The veil of the next-generation pure electric BMW M3 will be lifted for the first time at 11:00 PM Korean time on 12 June.