A New BMW 3 Series Is Coming. Here's Everything We Know

Now that we've seen the electric i3, here's what's in store for BMW's gas-powered 3 Series range

written by Duncan Brady
edited by Steven Ewing
9/8/2026
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What's new: BMW is putting the finishing touches on the next-generation 3 Series sedan.
Why it matters: This is BMW's first all-new 3 Series since 2019, and it previews what all BMWs will look and feel like over the next decade.
Edmunds says: The electric i3 isn't having all the fun; this gas-powered M350 should be a riot.

Big changes are coming to the BMW 3 Series. The compact sedan is currently undergoing testing in the south of France, and even looking at camouflaged prototypes, we can tell this will be one of the biggest changes the 3 Series has seen in its 50-plus-year history.

New engines, beefy M350 xDrive

BMW has already revealed the upcoming i3, its electric small sedan that aims to take sales from the Tesla Model 3 and the Mercedes-Benz CLA. But worry not, internal-combustion-engine lovers — a gas-powered 3 Series is on the way.

Like the current car, the 2027 3 Series will be offered with four- and six-cylinder engine options, both with 48-volt mild hybrid integration for extra power and smoother stop-start operation. The M350 xDrive variant is the one I'm excited about: It'll have a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six putting out 437 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque, significant bumps over the 382 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque in the outgoing M340i. You'll get quad exhaust tips, too. BMW says the M350 will be able to go from 0 to 62 mph in 4.1 seconds, 0.2 second ahead of what it quotes for the M340i xDrive.

Beyond the extra grunt, the M350 will also include all-wheel drive as standard; it appears rear-wheel-drive M Sport cars are going away. But that doesn't mean you can't have the slidy, tail-out fun we expect from a rear-wheel-drive BMW.

See 334 2026 BMW 3 Series vehicles for sale near you

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The M350 will feature what BMW calls Drift Moment, which, with stability control turned off, sends power only to the rear wheels. BMW has previously included a similar feature in all-wheel-drive versions of the M3, M4, M5 and M8, but this will be the first time it's available in one of the automaker's not-quite-real-M models. Only thing is, Drift Moment won't be available when the car goes on sale. BMW says it will be made available "over the course of 2027" and activated via an over-the-air software update.

As for the four-cylinder 3 Series, we don't have any word yet on what it will be called or if there will be any performance improvements over the outgoing 330i, but we'll keep you updated as we learn more.

Next-generation everything

If BMW's strategy with the i5 and i7 tells us anything, the 2027 3 Series will have a lot in common with the electric 2027 i3. Even through the camouflage, we can see the upcoming 3 Series will share the i3's longer wheelbase, wider track and distinctive lighting.

It'll also have a version of the i3's interior. That means it'll be defined by a 17.9-inch slanted parallelogram touchscreen running next-gen multimedia software. The 3 will also have BMW's Panoramic Vision display, a short screen at the base of the windshield that will span nearly the entire width of the car, acting as the digital instrument cluster and a place for bonus information widgets.

The new touchscreen will still include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, unlike some modern EVs, but BMW has also changed the native system's menu structure to make it easier to use. In our experience, the new software has a relatively steep learning curve but a ton of functionality once you get familiar with it.

Despite the longer wheelbase, our time with the i3 says the amount of space inside is largely unchanged, but the boxy rear profile makes the rear seat feel more spacious. One 5-foot-8 driver on staff had no problem fitting behind their own driving position and said it was easy to get in and out.

Arriving in 2027

BMW has yet to announce a release date for the next-generation 3 Series, but we know it's coming in 2027. Base price for the current 3 Series is $49,350 including destination; I don't expect a huge departure from that, but it's safe to assume BMW will bump that number into the low-to-mid-$50K range, especially if the four-cylinder 3 Series adopts standard AWD like its six-cylinder twin.

We're eager to get our hands on one and are expecting very good things.

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by Duncan Brady

Duncan Brady has worked in the automotive industry since 2017. In the years, he's written hundreds of reviews, news pieces, comparisons, and buyers guides, all while getting behind the wheel of anything and everything he can. Duncan is Edmunds' senior features editor but has previously been on staff at MotorTrend and contributed to Car and Driver. In his spare time, Duncan is often found camping, trying new recipes, exploring LA's restaurant scene, and hoping his early 2000s Porsches don't break

edited by Steven Ewing

Steven Ewing is Edmunds' director of editorial content. An automotive journalist for more than half of his life, Ewing's been on staff at Winding Road magazine, Autoblog, Motor1.com, CNET, and he was the U.S. correspondent for Top Gear magazine. He's also contributed to publications like Automobile magazine, Car and Driver, The Drive, Jalopnik, Porsche Panorama, and more. Ewing has worked in the automotive industry since 2003. From testing prototype cars in the Arctic Circle to spilling a beer on a Formula 1 driver at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (oops), he's always got an interesting story to tell.

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