BMW says the next combustion-powered 3 Series has reached the final phase of development before series production. On September 8, 2026, camouflaged prototypes completed a summer driving-dynamics program at the BMW Group test centre near Miramas in southern France, according to BMW’s update.
The testing focused on ride comfort, lateral dynamics and overall driving enjoyment. Miramas combines a high-speed oval, handling circuits and varied road surfaces, allowing BMW to assess the prototypes in different driving environments. The location matters because this is a calibration stage: the company is refining the car’s behaviour before production rather than beginning its development work.
A wider chassis and revised controls
Compared with the outgoing model, the new 3 Series will have a longer wheelbase and wider front and rear tracks. BMW also lists a double-joint spring-strut front axle, a five-link rear axle, an improved integrated braking system and a revised steering ratio among the chassis changes.
Optional sport tyres will be available in 245/35 R20 size at the front and 275/30 R20 at the rear for the first time. These changes indicate a development target that combines sharper responses with the comfort goals being assessed during the final testing phase. The announcement does not establish how every version will be equipped, but it confirms that the chassis and tyre package are central to the model’s final setup.
The powertrain range remains combustion-based. BMW plans four- and six-cylinder engines with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology, placing electrical assistance alongside the combustion powertrains rather than replacing them in this range.
The M350 xDrive is the named performance version
The BMW M350 xDrive is the only six-cylinder version identified in the announcement. It will use an eight-speed Steptronic transmission and BMW xDrive all-wheel drive as standard. BMW gives the development vehicle a provisional combined output of 326 kW, or 443 hp, and 580 Nm of torque. Its claimed 0–100 km/h time is 4.1 seconds, while top speed is listed at 250 km/h.
Production of the M350 xDrive is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026. That timing is the clearest production milestone provided by BMW, while the broader rollout details for the combustion 3 Series are not specified in the announcement.
Drift Moment is planned for 2027
BMW is also introducing Drift Moment, described as a first for a BMW 3 Series M Performance model. The function sends engine drive to the rear wheels through the central display. BMW plans to make it available during 2027 and says owners will be able to activate it through a remote software update on cars that have already been delivered.
That plan separates the feature’s announced timing from the car’s production schedule. The M350 xDrive is scheduled to enter production in the second half of 2026, but Drift Moment is not planned for availability until 2027.
Winter testing and the Nürburgring came first
Miramas follows earlier development work at BMW’s winter centre in Arjeplog, where prototypes were tested on frozen and snow-covered surfaces, and at the Nürburgring. Together, those locations cover low-grip winter conditions, high-speed running and varied handling work. The sequence shows that BMW is closing the calibration program across different environments before series production.
Performance figures remain provisional because the vehicle is still a development prototype. BMW has not yet provided WLTP consumption data, so the announcement does not establish the final efficiency figures. For now, the confirmed picture is a combustion 3 Series with 48V mild-hybrid four- and six-cylinder engines, a revised chassis and a named M350 xDrive performance model, with certification data still to come.