BMW’s next-generation 3 Series is entering the final phase of development, with combustion-powered versions arriving alongside the fully electric BMW i3, which had its design premiere in March 2026.
The ICE lineup will offer four- and six-cylinder engines paired with 48V mild hybrid technology, and despite the different drivetrains, BMW says every version is built around the same core traits that have defined the 3 Series for decades: driving pleasure, sharp handling and long-distance comfort.
All variants share the brand’s Neue Klasse design language, including a reworked take on BMW’s four-eyed face, a longer wheelbase, short overhangs and a 2.5-box silhouette, with the i3 and combustion models differing mainly in drivetrain-specific details. Inside, every version gets BMW’s new Panoramic iDrive display and Operating System X.
Final Testing at Miramas
The new 3 Series is currently undergoing its last round of driving dynamics testing at BMW‘s Miramas facility in southern France, which offers a high-speed oval, multiple handling courses and a range of road surfaces for fine-tuning vehicle behavior.
That testing follows earlier runs on snow and ice at BMW’s winter testing center in Arjeplog, Sweden, and laps at the Nürburgring. Dr. Mihiar Ayoubi, Senior Vice President of Driving Experience Development, said the 3 Series has set the standard for driving dynamics for decades, and that the new generation builds on that through a combination of chassis hardware and an increasingly intelligent BMW Driving Stack aimed at making the car feel precise, assured and unmistakably BMW.
Chassis Changes Across the Board
BMW refined the 3 Series’ chassis with a longer wheelbase than its predecessor, wider front and rear tracks, and near-perfect weight distribution between the axles for sharper handling.
New additions include an upgraded integrated braking system and revised steering ratio for more precise responses, built around a double-joint spring strut front axle and five-link rear axle, with high-preload anti-roll bar mounts improving roll control. Standard cars get newly developed lift-related dampers, while adaptive suspension and adaptive M suspension are available as options; for the first time, buyers can also spec optional 245/35 R20 front and 275/30 R20 rear sport tires.
The M350 xDrive Leads the Combustion Lineup
Topping the ICE range is the new BMW M350 xDrive, the only variant powered by a six-cylinder engine — a 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo inline-six paired with 48V mild hybrid assistance for a combined 326 kW (443 hp) and 580 Nm (428 lb-ft) of torque.
Standard equipment includes an eight-speed Steptronic transmission, xDrive all-wheel drive, adaptive M suspension, an M Sport differential and variable sport steering, with specific chassis tuning and increased torsional and vertical stiffness over other 3 Series models. BMW targets a 4.1-second 0-100 km/h time and a 250 km/h top speed, with production starting in the second half of 2026.
The M350 xDrive also introduces a new feature called Drift Moment, which sends the engine’s full output to the rear wheels when activated through the car’s central display, paired with M-style multi-disc clutch control and DSC turned off for what BMW describes as an unfiltered, sideways-focused driving experience previously reserved for full M models. Drift Moment arrives during 2027 and will be enabled on already-delivered cars through a remote software update.
Two Driving Stacks, One Philosophy
BMW built the new 3 Series around drivetrain-specific electronics, with the fully electric i3 running its “Heart of Joy” central computer alongside a dedicated BMW Dynamic Performance Control Driving Stack developed for BMW’s sixth-generation electric architecture.
Combustion models instead use an optimized BMW Driving Stack tuned specifically for that drivetrain, bundling together agility-related functions including the all-wheel-drive system through a transverse dynamics management layer. BMW frames both systems as high-end, tailored solutions built around the same guiding principle of Sheer Driving Pleasure, regardless of powertrain.
Efficiency gets similar attention through BMW EfficientDynamics, which spans the 48V electrical system, a My Mode Efficient setting, active air-flap control and an Efficiency Coach that offers proactive tips to encourage more energy-conscious driving.