BMW has teased its next-generation combustion-powered 3 Series, including a new M350 xDrive flagship that’ll offer near-M3 levels of performance.

The new-generation 3 Series will enter production during the second half of this year, and is currently undergoing a final round of driving dynamics testing at the BMW Group’s test centre outside Miramas in southern France.

While a next-generation combustion-powered M3 is in the works, the M350 xDrive will use a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder petrol engine mated with a 48V mild-hybrid system, all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission, with total system outputs of 326kW of power and 580Nm of torque.

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That’s a significant jump from the outgoing flagship 3 Series, the M340i xDrive, which also uses a 3.0-litre inline turbo six mated with an eight-speed auto and all-wheel drive but produces outputs of 285kW and 500Nm.

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The more powerful inline six reduces the claimed 0-100km/h time from 4.3 to 4.1 seconds.

The M350 xDrive produces more torque than the base rear-wheel drive manual version of the outgoing M3 and is only slightly behind it in power, while beating it to 100km/h by one tenth of a second, claims BMW.

Outputs for the outgoing base M3 are 353kW and 550Nm, though the auto-only Competition xDrive bumps these figures to 390kW and 650Nm.

Like the M340i xDrive it replaces, the M350 xDrive will be the only six-cylinder member of the regular 3 Series range, and features specific chassis tuning. Adaptive M suspension, the M Sport differential, and variable sport steering are standard.

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Supplied Credit: CarExpert

A new Drift Moment feature will be rolled out during 2027 and made available to already-delivered vehicles via an over-the-air software update. This sends all drive from the engine to the rear wheels, thereby “unlocking a driving feeling hitherto the preserve of high-performance models from BMW M” according to BMW.

As with the new M350 xDrive range-topper, four-cylinder members of the new-generation 3 Series family will also feature 48V mild-hybrid systems. BMW has yet to confirm whether diesel and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains will continue.

The new 3 Series uses a double-joint spring strut front axle and a five-link rear axle, and has newly developed ‘lift-related dampers’, with adaptive dampers optional in both regular and M guises.

BMW says it has retained the near-perfect weight distribution of the outgoing model, while also upgrading the braking and steering “to allow even more precise vehicle handling”.

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New options include sports tyres in 245/35 R20 front and 275/30 R20 rear formats.

BMW hasn’t released any further specifications yet, though it has confirmed the new 3 Series will ride on a longer wheelbase than the 2851mm span of the outgoing model and feature wider tracks.

Though it‘s underpinned by a different platform to the Neue Klasse-based electric i3 sedan, due in Australia in 2027, BMW has given the new 3 Series very similar styling.

That includes its headlights, which feature angular LED daytime running lights and which neatly flow into a reinterpreted double-kidney grille. Down back, the slim but wide tail-lights are also dead ringers for those on the i3.

Supplied Credit: CarExpert

Supplied Credit: CarExpert

Supplied Credit: CarExpert

Supplied Credit: CarExpert

Look closely, however, and the 3 Series appears to feature slightly longer overhangs than the i3, as well as a different rear-door window treatment.

BMW hasn’t previewed the new 3 Series’ interior, but has confirmed it’ll use the brand’s new BMW Panoramic iDrive with BMW Operating System X. We can therefore expect a slightly oddly shaped infotainment touchscreen and a dramatic pillar-to-pillar display at the base of the windscreen, with a head-up display expected to be available as well.

The new 3 Series will mark the eighth generation of a model that has long been regarded as the benchmark in its segment. It replaces the G20-series 3, which has been in production since 2018.

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MORE: Explore the BMW 3 Series showroom