- BMW’s next M-lite 3-series, the M350, has been spied testing at the Nurburgring.
- The replacement for today’ M340i will get a 3.0 turbo six making as much as 420 hp.
- It shares design cues with the Neue Klasse electric 3-series, but uses older platform.
Development of BMW’s next-generation 3-Series is edging closer to the finish line, and the latest spy shots from the Nürburgring prove that G50-generation M350 testing is at the fine-tuning stage. The M350 replaces today’s M340i and will take over the job of being the petrol-powered performance 3-series of choice for those who can’t quite stretch to a full-on M3.
Inline-Six Power Remains
Under the hood, the new M350 is expected to stick with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six, but power should rise to around 420 hp (426 PS). That would represent a healthy bump from the current M340i’s 382 hp (387 PS) and come pretty close to the 425 hp (431 PS) generated by the 2014-18 F30 M3, the first turbocharged M3. The updated engine will likely be mated to an eight-speed automatic and xDrive all-wheel drive as standard, though a rear-drive variant isn’t totally off the table.
Related: BMW’s New 3 Series Faces Its Most Defining Transformation In 50 Years
Despite heavy camouflage, there’s no hiding the M350’s sharper stance but familiar silhouette. This generation of combustion 3-series is particularly interesting because it bridges old and new BMW philosophies. While the upcoming all-electric 3-Series will ride on BMW’s all-new Neue Klasse platform, the ICE-powered M350 continues to use an evolved version of the CLAR architecture underpinning the current G20. That should keep it relatively light and agile, while updated electronics and chassis tuning sharpen the driving edge.
But even though it rides on a totally different platform to the electric 3-series – of which there’ll be some kind of M Performance version in addition to the confirmed electric M3, we’ve no doubt – the new M350 will take its design lead from the Neue Klasse EVs.
Different Underpinnings, Similar Styling
Beneath the camo, the car’s proportions hide slim headlights and a Neue Klasse-style “visor” grille, similar to the one already seen on the new iX3 SUV. Expect sculpted surfacing and cleaner lines that align with BMW’s latest design direction while still keeping a traditional sedan form, though there’ll also be a wagon version for Europe.
The M350’s cabin will be thoroughly modernized, incorporating BMW’s full-width head-up display at the base of the windshield and a new iDrive infotainment system. Combined with updated materials and a more minimalist layout, the result should feel familiar yet distinctly next-gen. Sources close to BMW tell us production of the new M350 is scheduled to begin in November 2026, meaning we could see an official reveal late next year, some time after the electric 3-series debuts.
For those who aren’t ready to go electric just yet, this could be the last combustion-powered 3-Series to carry the M Performance badge. But it won’t be the only gas-powered Three from BMW’s M division. The M team is also working on a new combustion M3 that will live alongside the first ever electric M3 and should have more than 550 hp (558 PS).