- BMW’s combustion 3-Series will share the Neue Klasse era with the all-electric i3.
- Quad exhausts will not be exclusive to the M3 in the next 3-Series generation.
- The new M350 xDrive is expected to use the B58 six-cylinder, producing over 400 hp.
Fresh from revealing the all-electric i3 sedan, BMW is already turning its attention to the next 3-Series with combustion power. This one moves into the Neue Klasse era too, borrowing heavily from the EV’s design language, though it stops short of being a straight clone and keeps a few visual cues to itself.
Details on the ICE version remain under wraps, yet a newly released development video centered on the electric model quietly slips in a glimpse of the new 3-Series on the move. Heavy camouflage does its job well, making it easy to mistake for the i3 at first glance, but a few differences begin to surface the longer you look.
Read: The Next 3-Series Shares BMW’s Future Look, But Not The Same Foundations
Watch closely toward the end of the footage and the disguise starts to crack. The prototype is seen pulling away during winter testing somewhere in Northern Europe, and the rear view gives the game away. Peer through the snow and camo, and those quad exhaust tips come into focus, initially prompting some speculation that this could be the latest M3.
The M340i’s Replacement?
However, this isn’t believed to be the case. As we’ve seen in previous spy shots showing the new 3-Series testing with quad exhausts, it won’t just be the M3 that uses this design. The most likely candidate is a successor to the current M340i, potentially wearing an M350 badge.
Like the outgoing model, the new M350 is expected to use BMW’s familiar 3.0-liter turbocharged B58 inline-six, possibly producing just over 400 hp. The name surfaced earlier this year through a leaked BMW accessory listing, which also indicated that the M350 will come equipped with the brand’s xDrive all-wheel drive system. It may not be a full M model, but performance should remain a key part of its appeal.
Of course, this will be just one version of the new 3-Series lineup. BMW is expected to offer a wide range of petrol and diesel engines, many centered around 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder units. Mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants are also likely, alongside a mild-hybridized M3 that will use an updated version of the current car’s S58 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged six.
Baldauf
