BMW has entered the final development phase for the next combustion-engined 3 Series, running camouflaged prototypes at its proving ground near Miramas in southern France. The line-up will pair four- and six-cylinder engines with 48V mild-hybrid technology alongside the already-revealed electric BMW i3. Topping the range is the M350 xDrive with 326 kW/443 hp and, for the first time in an M Performance 3 Series, a Drift Moment function.
The next generation of the BMW 3 Series with internal combustion engines has reached the closing stage of series production development. BMW says the model is currently completing a final round of driving dynamics testing at the company’s test centre outside Miramas in southern France, where prototypes still wear camouflage.
The site offers a high-speed oval, several handling courses and a wide variety of road surfaces, which the development team uses to analyse and fine-tune driving behaviour. Before arriving in Miramas, the car had already been tested on the frozen surfaces at BMW’s winter facility in Arjeplog and on the Nürburgring.
A technology-open line-up
BMW is running two parallel drive concepts under the same model family. The fully electric BMW i3, which had its design premiere in March 2026, is joined by 3 Series models with four- and six-cylinder engines, all of which use 48V mild-hybrid technology. According to the manufacturer, both variants share the Neue Klasse design language, including a reinterpretation of BMW’s four-eye front graphic, a long wheelbase, short overhangs and what the company describes as a 2.5-box silhouette. The electric and combustion models differ only in details determined by their respective drivetrains.
Inside, the cars use the BMW Panoramic iDrive display and control system running BMW Operating System X.
Chassis changes for the midsize class
The new 3 Series has a longer wheelbase than its predecessor and wider front and rear tracks. BMW points to near-balanced weight distribution between the axles as a key factor in the car’s handling, and lists an upgraded integrated braking system and a revised steering ratio among the technical changes.
The suspension layout consists of a double-joint spring strut front axle and a five-link rear axle, with high-preload anti-roll bar mounts at both ends. Standard cars get newly developed lift-related dampers, while adaptive suspension and adaptive M suspension are optional. For the first time, buyers can also order sports tyres in 245/35 R20 at the front and 275/30 R20 at the rear.
“The BMW 3 Series has set standards for driving dynamics for several decades now – and thus serves as a symbol of Sheer Driving Pleasure,” says Dr Mihiar Ayoubi, Senior Vice President Driving Experience Development. “With the new generation, we are building on this strength once again through the perfect interplay of chassis hardware and a continuously optimised and intelligent BMW Driving Stack.”
The M350 xDrive and the Drift Moment
The range-topping combustion model is the BMW M350 xDrive, the only version to use a six-cylinder engine. Its 3.0-litre TwinPower Turbo in-line six, combined with an electric motor as part of the 48V system, produces a combined 326 kW/443 hp and 580 Nm (428 lb-ft). BMW quotes 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) in 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). An eight-speed Steptronic transmission and xDrive all-wheel drive are standard, as are adaptive M suspension, the M Sport differential and variable sport steering. The M Performance model also gets specific chassis tuning and increased torsional and vertical stiffness.
The headline software feature is Drift Moment, which BMW is offering in a 3 Series M Performance model for the first time. Activated through the Central Display, it routes the engine’s drive entirely to the rear wheels and works with M-style multi-plate clutch control and DSC switched off. The function is due during the course of 2027 and will be added to cars already delivered to customers via a Remote Software Upgrade.
Two different driving stacks
BMW is using separate control architectures for the two drivetrains. The electric i3 relies on the Heart of Joy central computer together with the BMW Dynamic Performance Control Driving Stack, developed for the sixth-generation electric drive architecture. The combustion models instead use an optimised BMW Driving Stack tuned for that drive type, with a transverse dynamics management system bundling the agility-related functions including the dynamic all-wheel-drive system. Stabilisation and engine management stay with dedicated control units.
On the efficiency side, BMW lists the 48V electrical system, a My Mode Efficient setting, active air-flap control and an Efficiency Coach that prompts the driver towards a more economical style.
What it means
The 3 Series remains the volume backbone of BMW’s midsize offering, and running combustion and electric versions side by side under the Neue Klasse design keeps the company covered in markets where EV uptake is uneven. For buyers, the practical takeaway is that a straight-six 3 Series continues into the next generation, now with a drift function that until recently was reserved for BMW M GmbH’s high-performance cars.
Facts: BMW M350 xDrive
- Engine: 3.0-litre BMW TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder in-line, 48V mild hybrid
- Combined output: 326 kW/443 hp
- Torque: 580 Nm (428 lb-ft)
- 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph): 4.1 seconds
- Top speed: 250 km/h (155 mph)
- Transmission: eight-speed BMW Steptronic
- Drive: BMW xDrive all-wheel drive
- Start of production: second half of 2026
BMW notes that all figures are provisional because the cars are development-phase prototypes, and WLTP fuel consumption data is not yet available. Production of the M350 xDrive is scheduled to start in the second half of 2026, with Drift Moment following during 2027.
Source: www.press.bmwgroup.com