BMW's Upcoming M350 is Set for a Significant Design Redesign | Carscoops

      The first sedan utilizing the Neue Klasse architecture will debut a year after the iX3 SUV.

      6 hours ago

      by Chris Chilton

      BMW is currently testing the next-generation 3-Series at the Nürburgring.

      There have been sightings of two different prototypes powered by internal combustion engines (ICE) completing laps.

      The Neue Klasse 3-Series is set to launch in 2026 for model year 2027.

      This year marks the 50th anniversary of the BMW 3-Series, and like many who reach this milestone, it is about to undergo significant updates and enhancements to ensure it appears and performs more youthful and vigorous in the future. The new 3-Series is anticipated to arrive in 2026, with development moving to the Nürburgring to prepare for its upcoming launch.

      In contrast to the current 3-Series, the next-generation version will offer a selection of both electric and combustion engines. Recently, our spy cameras captured two ICE prototypes testing on the historic 12.8-mile (20.6 km) Nordschleife, one of which appears to be the successor to the M340i, potentially named the M350i, suggested by its quad exhausts.

      Related: Here’s Everything We Know About The 2027 BMW 3-Series

      While the i3 electric variants will utilize the same Neue Klasse platform, making its production debut later this year with the electric iX3 SUV, the ICE models are thought to remain on the current CLAR architecture but will feature design elements inspired by the Neue Klasse.

      There was a notion that the two vehicles seen represented models from different categories, one featuring quad exhausts and the other lacking them. However, comparing the profile images revealed that both bodies were identical, indicating they both feature combustion engines.

      Previous sightings of both the i3 sedan and the upcoming electric M3 have shown that the EV models possess an almost perfectly horizontal belt line and a post that tilts forward in the middle of the rear door. In contrast, both cars spotted at the Nürburgring have a slight upward curve in the belt line, vertical door posts, and slightly less metal between the rear wheel arch and the door.

      Though the interiors of the two vehicles aren't visible, we anticipate that the combustion 3-Series will closely resemble the interior design and layout of the i3. According to BMW’s presentations of various concepts in recent years, including at CES this January, it will likely feature a fully customizable pillar-to-pillar head-up display in place of traditional gauges, along with a more conventional tablet-style touchscreen fixed to the center of the dashboard.

      Under the hood, we can expect updated mild-hybrid versions of current powertrains, which will include a 2.0-liter four-cylinder for most models and a 3.0-liter inline-six for the M340/M350, along with several plug-in hybrid options, and eventually, a mild-hybrid six-cylinder for the M3. Look forward to the unveiling of the new 3-Series in 2026, but don’t anticipate availability until the following year.

      Images: Baldauf