BMW M350 Will Take The 3 Series Into A New Performance Dimension

BMW is in full-swing development of its electric Neue Klasse models, which it has described as a full reinvention of the brand. The new look is set to debut later this year, and the design will almost certainly put to rest all of the criticisms of BMW’s current design language.

But the new design won’t be applied solely to electric models. BMW is still working on a new generation of gas-powered cars, and as we can see in the latest spy shots, those vehicles will get the Neue Klasse face as well. This time it’s the new 3 Series, particularly the model expected to be called M350, which has been spotted on the Nürburgring.

Gas 3 Series Shows Subtle Differences

Look very closely at this M350, and you can see the differences between it and the electric Neue Klasse sedan. The main difference is between the front tire and the A-pillar. The distance here is significantly longer for the gas model than the EV, with a corresponding longer hood. BMW’s inline sixes take up a lot of space, and if you want to keep a 50-50 weight balance, something has to give.

There appear to be some other small differences, including the distance between the rear wheel arch and the bottom of the windows. The EV has some extra surfacing towards a wider rear shoulder than the gas model as well.

From the rear, the two are very similar. Although neither is using its production taillight design yet. The prototype items are simple, with just a couple of bulbs in a generic housing.

The quad tailpipes make it immediately obvious that this is the gas-powered 3 Series. We hadn’t initially expected new gas models, but in 2023, it leaked that BMW had new ICE models in the works.

An open lower grille is another clear sign of gas power. Our spies tell us that BMW had to remove the camouflage to improve engine cooling. It also gives us a better look at that front lip.

Expect More Power But A Familiar Engine

We’re expecting the gas engine to be a development of BMW’s B58 inline-six. The 3.0-liter I6 makes as much as 382 horsepower in the current M340i model. The same engine already makes 429 horsepower as installed in the Toyota Supra Final Edition, although it was tuned by Toyota and didn’t borrow a BMW map.

Expect the new M350 to make more than 400 horsepower. It will also need to meet ever-tougher Euro emissions standards, which means it’s almost certain the mild hybrid system from the current M340i will carry over.

As M division boss Frank van Meel recently said in an interview, “If customers say, ‘Even though an M3 is significantly faster electrically than the combustion engine that is the benchmark today, I still want a combustion engine,’ then we will not withhold this offer from them.” The same seems to apply to this M-Lite model.

Related

The Electric BMW M3 Is Taking Shape

Don’t worry – there’ll still be a combustion M3, though an ICE-powered M4 may soon be a thing of the past.

At this stage, we’re expecting the iX3 to be the first Neue Klasse model and for it to be revealed later this year. This 3 Series will likely take at least a few months longer. Likely making its appearance sometime in 2026.