BMW has revealed its M Concept Neue Klasse at the Le Mans 24-Hour Race, hoping that it will do for it electric performance cars what the Neue Klasse concept has done for the iX3 and 3-Series. 

Like those other Neue Klasse cars in the BMW range, this concept is designed to look forward but also to evoke memories of BMW’s delightful past, in this case the glory days of the second generation 3-Series of the early 1980s. 

The retro nods to the classic saloon are in the square shape of the concept and the upright passenger section, and the M Concept Neue Klasse hints heavily at an upcoming M car based on the new i3. 

Oliver Heilmer, who is in charge of designing BMW’s M cars, is excited about the possibilities of the new car. “The new BMW M design language forms the expressive spearhead of the Neue Klasse – determined and purposeful,” he said. 

“At BMW M, form consistently follows function. Every detail serves performance. This project is truly special to me because it carries the BMW M character into a new era.”

​BMW says that the concept car has been designed to show off what an electric sports car from the company can look like, like the previous Neue Klasse concepts. 

It’s been given muscular proportions, lots of neat aerodynamic details and yellow day running lights that are apparently intended to become a signature look for BMW’s M cars. 

The M Concept Neue Klasse has been kitted out with four electric motors – one for each wheel for the technical minded among you – and this gives the company a lot of flexibility when it comes to engineering how the car drives, it says. 

Power can be tailored to each wheel, all four wheels can be used for brake regen and the onboard computer can respond with lightning speed if any of the wheels loses traction. Inside the car there are four bucket seats and not really a lot else... 

BMW also says that the car uses its latest generation of battery cells, as seen most recently on the facelifted i8 limousine that was revealed at the Beijing motor show, which means 800V tech and lots of range from the 100kWh pack. 

There’s no information as to when we’ll see a production Neue Klasse M car, but this concept car will certainly whet a few appetites…