BMW M will follow Hyundai’s lead and incorporate fake gear shifts and engine sounds into its first high-performance electric model.
The as-yet-unnamed electric vehicle is scheduled to appear in 2027 – a year earlier than previously thought – and will be a performance sedan modeled on the legendary M3, joining its combustion engine “brother” in the BMW range.
However, BMW remained relatively cautious throughout the development of the M3 EV As part of the international market launch of the iX3 SUV, project boss Philipp Brunn finally provided information about important details, including aspects of the powertrain and the driving experience.
“Unique features such as performance-specific driving modes, emulated gear changes and specific sounds enhance the driving experience and emphasize uniqueness,” Brunn told the media Daily Sparkz in Sotogrande, Spain.
With Daily Sparkz you can save thousands on a new car. Click Here to get a great deal.
“Most of the features are patented and will be available exclusively for BMW M models.”
Although BMW patents some of its own technologies, it is not the first automaker to explore simulated gear changes and artificial engine noise in an electric vehicle.
Hyundai introduced similar technology back in 2023 with the hot Ioniq 5 N to refute claims that electric vehicles might be underwhelming.
The Ioniq 5 N has three switchable drive sounds: “Ignition”, “Evolution” and “Supersonic”, each of which is intended to make driving more fun. “Ignition” is intended to simulate the sound of a turbocharged four-cylinder engine both inside and outside the vehicle.
It’s unclear what exactly BMW M will offer in terms of an artificial soundtrack, but a spokesperson has hinted that an initial hint can be found at the end of the third episode of the brand’s BMW M Electrified YouTube series.
As for gear shifting, Hyundai also introduced “N e-Shift” – a system that simulates a dual-clutch automatic transmission by precisely controlling engine torque.
The goal? To provide a familiar driving experience and bridge the gap between the characteristics of internal combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles.
However, BMW claims that its unique transmission system also serves to improve the four-motor electric M3’s handling in low-grip situations.
“A good example would be if you were driving with low friction and using the full potential of a very powerful powertrain, let’s say you’re doing snow handling or wet handling or something like that,” Mr. Brunn explained.
“If you need maybe 30 to 40 percent of maximum potential and you’re not going that fast, say 80 km/h or 100 km/h, you’re only going to use your accelerator for a short time and therefore the controllability and handling are not as good.
“If you have something like gear shifts, you can reduce the maximum available torque and distribute it across the entire drive pedal, and then it becomes much more controllable.”
In fact, the “iM3” – if that’s what it’s called – has already been spotted testing on ice ahead of its planned release in 2027.
When asked, BMW M representatives did not admit to benchmarking Hyundai products when developing the first electric model.
Porsche is also considering introducing similar features to its upcoming electric vehicles and last year built an electric Cayenne prototype with fake engine sounds and gear changes.
MORE: Details about the first BMW M EV, expected in 2027
