BMW M3 rumored to rival Audi RS5 and AMG C63

BMW’s next M3 is said to be built on the company’s updated CLAR platform, the architecture used by the latest 3 Series. The platform, called Linie Klein, is the same base used for the old 3 Series, 5 Series, 6 Series, X3, X4, Z4, and Toyota GR Supra. Renderings released by Kolesa’s Nikita Chuyko show a more aggressive design that borrows cues from the M Concept Neue Klasse, and industry chatter points to a 2028 launch for the ICE version, after a battery‑electric sibling in the first half of 2027.

Exterior styling

The CGI shows a vented hood and a new bumper with side lights, echoing the M Concept’s styling. The front grille, air intakes and headlights resemble the regular 3 Series, while the yellow daytime running lights are those of the M350 xDrive. At the rear the model sports a similar bumper, fake vents, a subtler diffuser and a chunky duck‑tail spoiler, while the quad exhausts and taillights stay the same. New M‑shaped wheels sit on an orange body with a black roof and black trim.

Inside, the cabin shares the panoramic iDrive display that stretches across the windshield and the same infotainment system found on other Neue Klasse models. The dashboard panel is also shared with other Neue Klasse models, but the steering wheel is expected to be sportier and the seats are likely to be bucket‑style with M‑specific upholstery and trim.

A straight‑six, 3.0‑liter twin‑turbo engine with mild‑hybrid assistance is expected under the hood. While exact power figures are not confirmed, rivals such as the Audi RS 5 and Mercedes‑AMG C 63 produce over 600 hp, so the new M3 will likely aim for a comparable output.

Word on the street says the all‑new BMW M3 will debut in 2028, roughly one year after its battery‑electric sibling, the mechanically unrelated M3 Electric, which is based on the Neue Klasse platform.