New BMW 3 Series revealed with 326kW M350 straight-six flagship

BMW has continued the drip-feed of its latest-generation 3 Series sedan, pulling the covers off a pair of combustion-engined models that utilise a heavy revamp of the previous car’s platform rather than the Neue Klasse architecture that underpins the electric i3.

Local specs are due to be released imminently, but Australia is widely tipped to receive both petrol models revealed today: a rear-wheel-drive 320 and an all-wheel-drive M350 xDrive, which will sit in local showrooms alongside near-identical electric i3 models.

The new 320 produces 155kW/330Nm from its 2.0-litre inline-four, while the M350 seriously ramps up sub-M3 performance levels with a 326kW B58 six-cylinder tune good for a 4.1-second 0-100km/h time.

Although the combustion 3 Series and electric i3 use different underpinnings, BMW has deliberately made both versions of its classic sedan look near-identical, with small differences in proportion only becoming evident when placed side-by-side.

No matter the fuel source, the new 3 Series is German-made, though the specific factory differs – BMW’s home plant in inner-city Munich for the EV and its Dingolfing location for combustion versions.

Compared to the outgoing petrol 3 Series, the new ‘G50’ model is longer, wider and around 100-150kg heavier. At 4765mm long, 1850mm wide and 1455mm tall, the ICE sedan is a little bigger than the well-regarded ‘G20’ 3 Series, while the wheelbase has been slightly stretched by 9mm.

Outside, the eighth-generation 3 Series evokes the squared-off front- and rear-end design of the E36 generation of the 1990s with what BMW says is a 2.5-box design, but there’s no return to retro in the cabin.

The curved twin-screen infotainment package of the outgoing 3 Series has been fundamentally replaced with the Panoramic iDrive system that debuted in the electric iX3, combining a full-width Panoramic Vision display at the base of the windscreen with a 17.9-inch central touchscreen.

Those screens run BMW’s new Operating System X software, while wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto are standard.

M Sport treatment is expected to remain the default treatment for the Australian market, with the M350 piling harder-core M Performance detailing on top, the latter controversially inheriting the M3 CS’s yellow daytime running lights.

A wide variety of paints joins extensive interior colour choices, along with a range of leather and non-leather trims. Alloy wheel sizes measure 18-20 inches for the petrol 3 Series and 19-21 inches for the electric i3.

Compared to the ageing seventh-generation version, the powertrain story is a mixed bag. The new 320’s 155kW/330Nm 2.0-litre ‘B48’ tune is less muscular than the outgoing 330i’s 190kW/400Nm donk, but the M350 is substantially more powerful than today’s M340i.

There are hints of M3 in the M350, too, with the M Performance grade’s new ‘Drift Moment’ mode capable of routing torque solely to the rear wheels. Adaptive M suspension also becomes standard on the six-cylinder model.

On the electric side of the ledger, BMW has complemented the 345kW/645Nm i3 50 xDrive grade announced in March with a 40 xDrive that uses a lighter 82.8kWh battery compared to 108.7kWh.

That change reduces weight by 115kg, though WLTP range falls from 912km to 710km. Still, AWD is retained with healthy outputs of 275kW/520Nm, while 800-volt DC charging retains a solid 300kW peak speed.

Additional 3 Series variants are expected to be added over time, including a rear-wheel-drive EV variant, though a 115kW/250Nm base petrol 318 announced for Europe today is less likely to come to Australia.

While today’s announcement represents a significant building-out of the next-generation 3 Series line-up, much remains under wraps.

We’re still yet to see the 3 Series Touring model – and while the station wagon is heavily targeted at European buyers, there’s a chance it could return for Australia, albeit possibly only as an electric model.

The coming months should also bring the reveal of the M3 sedan as the hero of the 3 Series line-up, while the two-door 4 Series and the reprise of the M3 Touring are also widely tipped.

But immediately next up is likely to be Australian pricing and specification for local launch versions of the 3 Series in both combustion and electric formats.

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