A new generation of the BMW 3 Series is just around the corner, and BMW has given us the lowdown on the version most performance enthusiasts will crave. Those who can’t or don’t want to stretch for the M3, that is.
At the top of the regular 3 Series hierarchy will once again sit an M Performance model, this time badged the M350. It replaces the current M340i, which is already one of the best sports sedans ever built, but judging by its specifications, the M350 is set to raise the bar even further.
The Inline-Six Lives On, As It Should
New BMW 3 Series (M350)BMW
The new 3 Series represents the eighth generation of the nameplate, and this time around there will be versions with electric and internal-combustion power. The electric version, which inherits the i3 badge from BMW’s former electric city car, was already shown in March. The ICE version, which will feature the same Neue Klasse-era styling, is still testing and will debut later this year. Both should be in showrooms early next year, likely as 2027 models for the US.
For the ICE version, there will be turbocharged inline-four and inline-six engines with 48-volt mild-hybrid systems on offer. The inline-six is expected to be reserved for the M350 in most markets, where it will deliver a peak 437 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque when working together with the mild-hybrid system. Mated to the engine will be an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel-drive system.
The quoted figure for accelerating from zero to 62 mph is 4.1 seconds, which is 0.2 seconds quicker than in the current M340i with xDrive. The top speed for both models is a governed 155 mph.
What’s In Store For The Chassis?
New BMW 3 Series (M350)BMW
While the i3 rides on BMW’s next-generation Neue Klasse EV platform, the M350i will use an updated version of the current 3 Series’ CLAR platform. This will be no mere reskin, however, as BMW has confirmed the front and rear tracks and wheelbase are all growing in the new generation, which should result in better stability and more cabin room. Torsional and vertical stiffness will also increase.
BMW plans to fit the M350i with adaptive M suspension, an M Sport differential, and the automaker’s variable steering system, which changes the steering ratio based on the angle of the steering wheel. It’s designed to add stability when cruising on a highway and provide quicker, more direct steering when parking or turning sharply.
Like the so-called Heart of Joy chassis control system of the electric i3, the ICE-powered 3 Series will also feature its own high-tech electronic chassis system that constantly monitors the car’s powertrain and various other systems to keep it stable and composed. And for those who want some sideways action, a new Drift Moment function is designed to send all the power to the rear wheels, and may utilize a new drift initiation technique discovered in patent filings by CarBuzz.
It will arrive later in 2027 through a software update, including for cars already delivered to customers. This suggests that there might not be a rear-wheel-drive version of the M350, like with the M340i in the US market.
CarBuzz Insights – Why This Matters
New BMW 3 Series (M350)BMW
With the next M3 expected to become even more hardcore and offer buyers a choice of electric or ICE power for the first time, the M350 could become the sweet spot for buyers who still want the classic BMW sports sedan formula. It won’t have a manual, but neither does the M340i, so that’s hardly a surprise. Let’s just hope BMW keeps one for the M3.
BMW hasn’t said how much the M350i will cost but as a guide, the current M340i is priced from $62,300 with rear-wheel drive and $64,300 with xDrive all-wheel drive.
