BMW provided flights from Washington, DC, to Malaga, Spain, and accommodation so Ars could drive the iX3 and be briefed on the electric M Neue Klasse. Ars does not accept paid editorial content.

Late last year, we drove BMW's new iX3 . It's the first of a series of electric BMWs to use a newly developed platform, known as the "Neue Klasse." Later this year, we'll see the first fully electric version of the 3 Series when the i3 sedan debuts. And next year, BMW enthusiasts will finally find out what the brand's M division—which infuses motorsport into the vehicles like few others—can do with an EV.

There have been M-tuned EVs before now, more powerful variants of the i4 , iX , and i7 . And each time we've driven them, BMW has been at pains to point out that these weren't true M cars, not like the M3 or M5 . Honestly, they weren't better than the cheaper, less powerful versions , something that won't be allowed for next year's performance EV, which might be called something like the iM3, assuming the naming convention remains logic-based.

"The next generation of models are set to establish a new benchmark in the high-performance vehicle segment," says Franciscus van Meel, managing director of BMW M GmbH. "With the latest generation of Neue Klasse technology, we are taking the BMW M driving experience to a new level and will inspire our customers with outstanding, racetrack-ready driving dynamics for everyday use."

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