To put it politely: electric sports cars have yet to really take off. Audi and Porsche are both developing battery-electric coupes (and roadsters), but declining demand for electric cars has already cast doubt on those models. BMW, however, remains convinced that there is room for electric sports cars in today's market.
At the presentation of the i3, BMW's head of product Bernd Körber said that an electric sports car would make sense in the brand's portfolio. He did not confirm a production version, but stressed that BMW is constantly exploring new possibilities for improving performance: "BMW will always be involved in sports cars; electric cars have their place among sports cars. So I would say: it's not impossible, but nothing that will appear on the market in the next year."
In this regard, it is worth noting: BMW has not produced a “real” sports car (in the sense of a “supercar”) since the end of production of the M1 in 1981. Of course, BMW already has an electric BMW M3 in the works – probably together with a corresponding M4 Coupé. This model is said to be based on the new class platform of the new i3 and could achieve an output of around 515 kW (700 hp) with up to four electric motors. A standalone electric sports car would, however, be a completely different concept.
BMW already produced a prototype of the Neue Klasse coupé in 2024, but it is unlikely to go into series production in this form. In addition, Munich has already explained that its 800-volt architecture with four motors could enable an output of up to 986 kW (1.341 hp). This would put it pretty much in the range of the electric AMG GT XX, which will come to the market with four doors.
Whether BMW will revive this prototype or develop something completely new is not yet clear – at least the door seems open for that.
