BMW Confirms 443-hp M350 xDrive Tops Next 3 Series Lineup

• M350 xDrive: 443 hp, 428 lb-ft, 0-100 km/h in 4.1 seconds (provisional).

• Drift Moment sends full power rearward; arrives in 2027 via Remote Software Upgrade.

• All engines get 48V mild hybrid; production starts second half of 2026.

BMW‘s next-generation 3 Series with four- and six-cylinder engines is in its final round of driving dynamics testing at the BMW Group proving grounds outside Miramas in southern France, the company said. Camouflaged prototypes are running high-intensity tuning drives on the site’s high-speed oval and handling courses as the car enters the last phase of development before production.

The range-topping M350 xDrive, the only six-cylinder model in the new lineup, produces 443 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque. BMW says it will also receive a Drift Moment function during 2027, the first time the feature has been offered on a 3 Series M Performance model.

Miramas caps a test programme that included Arjeplog and the Nürburgring

By the time the prototypes reached Miramas, they had already been through winter testing at BMW’s Arjeplog centre in Sweden and laps at the Nürburgring. Miramas adds a wider range of track types and road surfaces, which BMW says lets engineers refine every aspect of the car’s driving behaviour.

“The BMW 3 Series has set standards for driving dynamics for several decades now, and thus serves as a symbol of Sheer Driving Pleasure,” said Dr. Mihiar Ayoubi, Senior Vice President, Driving Experience Development. He credited the new chassis hardware and what BMW calls its Driving Stack, an integrated hardware and software system that manages driving-relevant functions.

M350 xDrive: 443 hp, 428 lb-ft and 0-100 km/h in 4.1 seconds

Here’s the part enthusiasts will read first. The M350 xDrive pairs a 3.0-litre TwinPower Turbo inline six with 48V mild hybrid technology, an eight-speed Steptronic automatic and xDrive all-wheel drive. BMW’s provisional figures:

• Output: 443 hp
• Torque: 428 lb-ft
• 0-100 km/h: 4.1 seconds
• Top speed: 250 km/h (155 mph)
• Start of production: second half of 2026

That’s a step up from the outgoing M340i xDrive, which BMW Canada rated at 386 hp and 398 lb-ft from its B58 3.0-litre inline six, with a 4.3-second run to 100 km/h. The M350 xDrive adds 57 hp and 30 lb-ft and trims two tenths off the sprint, on provisional numbers.

Adaptive M suspension, the M Sport differential and variable sport steering are standard, along with model-specific chassis tuning and improved torsional and vertical stiffness.

Drift Moment arrives in 2027 through a Remote Software Upgrade

Activated through the Central Display, Drift Moment sends the engine’s full output to the rear wheels, paired with M-style control of the multidisc clutch and DSC switched off. It arrives during 2027, and cars delivered before then will receive it through a Remote Software Upgrade.

Longer wheelbase, wider tracks and optional 20-inch sports tires

The four-cylinder models carry the same 48V mild hybrid technology. Across the lineup, the new car has a longer wheelbase than its predecessor, wider front and rear tracks, and close to even weight distribution between the axles. The front axle is a double-joint spring strut design; the rear is a five-link setup.

The standard suspension uses newly developed lift-related dampers, while adaptive suspension and adaptive M suspension are available for those who want them. For the first time, buyers can specify sports tires measuring 245/35 R20 up front and 275/30 R20 at the rear, and BMW has upgraded the integrated braking system and revised the steering ratio.

Neue Klasse design and Panoramic iDrive shared with the electric i3

The combustion models sit alongside the fully electric BMW i3, which made its design debut in March 2026. Both wear Neue Klasse styling, including a new take on the four-eyed face and a 2.5-box profile with short overhangs; BMW says the two differ only in drive-system details. Inside, Panoramic iDrive with Operating System X handles displays and controls. Efficiency aids include My Mode Efficient and active air-flap control.

BMW notes that all figures are provisional development-phase numbers, and fuel consumption data has not yet been published.