BMW M3 Drag Races Tesla Model 3 and Nio ET5 in Reverse, Makes ICE Loyalists Proud

Why does it do that? The answer is rather straightforward. As it happens, the Dearborn-based automaker programmed the battery’s electronic brain to limit power in order to limit heating, thus preserving battery life. Hyundai also does it with the new Ioniq 5 N, although for 10 seconds at a time.

The video below doesn’t star the Mach-E or Ioniq 5, though, but the oh-so-ubiquitous Model 3 with a blue wrap. Owned by the folks at carwow Deutschland, the zero-emission sedan before your eyes is joined by something you rarely see on European roads. That something is the Nio ET5, which is a direct competitor to the Tesla Model 3.

Representing the internal combustion crowd, a BMW M3 in Competition flavor is much obliged to show the electric sedans a thing or two in the quarter mile. Funnily enough, the M3 makes easy work of both in reverse. Over the quarter mile, that is, although the German version of carwow did not share how much they took to reach the finish line.

Equipped with M xDrive all-wheel drive, the G80 further asserts dominance facing the right way on the runway. The best quarter-mile time for the Bimmer was 11.70 seconds, which is absolutely tremendous for a car this heavy. In European specification, the M3 Competition xDrive tips the scales at 1,855 kilograms (4,090 pounds; DIN).

Because of their heavy batteries, the Model 3 and ET5 are heavier still. The Chinese newcomer is downright porky at 2,160 kilograms, meaning 4,762 pounds in the imperial system. Then again, bear in mind that Nio still has plenty of catching up to do before posing a threat to Palo Alto-based Tesla.

Ah, yes, we were talking about times a moment ago! The Model 3 may be marginally punchier than the M3 (513 versus 510 metric ponies and 660 versus 650 Nm of torque), yet it requires 11.77 seconds to complete the standing quarter. In this particular scenario, weight is a drawback, that’s for sure!

The Nio did extremely well for such a heavy car, dealing with the quarter mile in 11.94 seconds. By comparison, General Motors quotes 10.5 for the first-ever Corvette to feature hybrid assistance. From a rolling start, the M3 once again puts the EVs in their place. In addition to BMW’s way of calibrating the ZF-supplied automatic transmission of the M3, remember that Munich’s favorite son likes to sandbag.

The S58 twin-turbo I6 makes more power and torque than advertised, and the same can be said about the B58 on which it's based. Indeed, even the Z4-twinned Supra has that little bit more to offer at the crankshaft than Japan's largest automaker says it does on paper.