- The new 3-Series will share much of its design with the electric i3.
- BMW will retain its familiar CLAR architecture for the new sedan.
- A punchy mid-spec M350 xDrive has been confirmed with 437 hp.
Six months after the all-electric i3 was unveiled, BMW is following up that model with the new combustion-powered 3-Series. A new teaser shared on social media confirms the sedan will debut on September 30 in Europe, or during the evening of September 29 in the US.
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Just like the i3, the new 3-Series will be the latest BMW to adopt the brand’s Neue Klasse design philosophy. This means it’ll look vastly different than the current model, although the design may prove to be controversial.
Read: The New BMW M350 xDrive Has 443 HP And A Drift Mode That Makes It RWD
BMW is moving away from the huge kidney grilles that have characterized most of its models over the past decade and, instead, is adopting slimmer and wider grilles that seamlessly flow into the headlights. In the case of the new 3-Series, these headlights will each incorporate two diagonal slashes serving as the daytime running lights, as seen on the i3 sedan.
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The rear of the latest 3-Series will also be similar to the i3, adopting the same LED taillights and both a similar tailgate and diffuser. Key points of difference between the two will include the combustion model’s longer hood, larger rear overhang, and more conventional windshield.
An All-New Interior Is Coming
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A huge design overhaul to the 3-Series’ cabin has also been made. As seen on models like the iX3, i3, and the new X5, it will use BMW’s Panoramic iDrive system and slanted infotainment display
Although the 3-Series is adopting many of the same design elements as the i3, that’s where the similarities will end. You see, whereas the i3 uses BMW’s Neue Klasse platform, the 3-Series will use an updated version of the CLAR architecture already in use.
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Chasing Performance
The full model range has yet to be announced, but BMW did recently tease a new M350 xDrive model. Built to replace the excellent M340i xDrive, this new model uses a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance. All up, it’ll deliver 437 hp and 428 lb-ft (580 Nm) of torque. Those figures comfortably exceed the F80-generation of M3, showing just how far the 3-Series has progressed over the past decade.
Paired with the M350’s powerful new engine will be an eight-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system that includes a rear-wheel-drive-only mode, curiously named ‘Drift Moment.’ New versions of the beloved six-cylinder M3 and M4 are also in the cards, although they are not expected to launch until 2028 and 2030, respectively.
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