Next-gen Bmw 3 Series Finishes Final Testing

While tourists and locals in the south of France enjoy champagne, escargot, and other delicacies I can’t pronounce, BMW is concluding testing of the next-generation 3 Series at Autodrome de Miramas focused on “driving pleasure, transverse dynamics, and ride comfort.”

Back in the day, BMW called its new 1962 series of sedans Neue Klasse. That same verve that changed BMW’s trajectory is being used for a new era of platforms and style inspired by the Vision Neue Klasse concept that debuted at the CES 2023 (Consumer Electronics Show).

“The BMW 3 Series has set standards for driving dynamics for several decades now – and thus serves as a symbol of sheer driving pleasure,” says Dr. Mihiar Ayoubi, senior vice president of Driving Experience Development, “With the new generation of the car, we are building on this strength once again through the perfect interplay of chassis hardware and a continuously optimized and intelligent BMW Diving Stack.” 

Expected chassis upgrades include a longer wheelbase, wider front and rear tracks, and undercarriage components. The standard suspension system will feature newly developed lift-related dampers. A double-joint spring strut front axle is paired with a five-link rear axle with anti-roll bar mounts attached to each. Customers will have the option of Adaptive Suspension or Adaptive M Suspension upgrades.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about the new M Performance model. Sure, the 3 Series with the four-cylinder is a very capable automobile, but opt for the BMW M350 xDrive. As the only of the 3 Series models to be powered by a 3.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline-six, this model also features 48V mild hybrid technology to offer a combined 437 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque. Paired with an eight-speed BMW Steptronic automatic transmission, BMW estimates this all-wheel drive model to reach 62 mph in 4.1 seconds and top out at 155 mph.

Something to look forward to for the M350 xDrive is called Drift Moment. This feature, created to “maximize the joy of going sideways,” operates by pushing a button to send all the power to the rear wheels. This feature will be introduced in 2027 so early-production cars will be able to acquire Drift Moment by  a remote software upgrade.   

Of course, you may be reading this from somewhere else other than the Côte d’Azur, but you still may be able to feel fancy driving the next-gen 3 Series before the end of the 2026.