2027 BMW 3 Series to Debut Sept 30; M350 xDrive Leads

The 2027 BMW 3 Series will debut on September 30, 2026, and the headline model is the new M350 xDrive, an M Performance variant powered by the turbocharged B58 inline-six delivering 437 horsepower and 580 Newton-meters (428 lb-ft) of torque.

BMW claims the M350 xDrive runs to 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour) in 4.1 seconds and reaches a 250 kilometers per hour (155 miles per hour) top speed on suitable tyres. The M350 replaces the M340i xDrive, carries mild-hybrid 48-volt electrification, offers no manual transmission, and should include an xDrive system with a driver-selectable rear-wheel-drive mode similar to current M xDrive cars.

Powertrains and testing

BMW carried out final driving-dynamics work at its Miramas, France, proving ground in the days ahead of the launch. Four- and six-cylinder powertrains, all equipped with 48-volt mild-hybrid systems, were evaluated across a broad range of conditions as BMW said it tuned the car’s behavior with close attention to detail.

A plug-in hybrid is confirmed to be part of the range and is likely to use the B48 four-cylinder turbo. Rumors indicate the next M3 with internal combustion may also gain 48-volt assistance, but that remains unconfirmed. Sources close to the program suggest the M340d will not be replaced, reflecting diesel’s continued market decline in Germany and across the European Union.

Design, production and materials

Although the 3 Series shares Neue Klasse styling cues with BMW’s i3 sedan, the two cars are fundamentally different underneath. The battery-electric i3 and its Touring variant sit on the Neue Klasse EV platform, while the internal-combustion 3 Series retains a modified CLAR architecture refined for forthcoming emissions regulations.

Design boss Adrian von Hooydonk says customers will be hard-pressed to tell the two compact sedans apart. Visually, BMW has slimmed the kidney grille so it flows into the headlamps; diagonal slashes serve as daytime-running lights. The rear lighting signature and even the diffuser take obvious cues from the i3. Inside, the cabin follows the template introduced on the iX3, with no conventional instrument cluster, a Panoramic Vision area at the base of the windshield, a large central touchscreen and a new multifunction steering wheel.

Production is scheduled to begin at BMW’s Dingolfing plant in November 2026, while the i3 is built in Munich. BMW also highlighted sustainability targets for the G50 3 Series: 25 percent of the model’s content will consist of secondary materials, supply-chain CO2e emissions are down roughly 30 percent, and the hood uses approximately 70 percent recycled aluminium. Wheel supports, wheels and swivel bearings also incorporate high levels of secondary material. BMW said it will publish a TUV-validated Product Carbon Footprint report shortly after the public reveal to document materials and lifecycle CO2e.