by New BMW 3-Series G50: Sporty looks and a proven platform
The next generation of the BMW 3-Series has been spotted on road tests with less camouflage. The model will receive an updated version of the CLAR platform and will borrow the style and technologies of the Neue Klasse from the electric i3 sedan.
First look at the M350
The new electric i3 sedan became the first low model to adopt the Neue Klasse design language after the iX3 crossover, but it will not be the only BMW in this segment. It will be joined by a new generation of the 3-Series with an internal combustion engine, codenamed G50, which is expected to appear later this year.
Our spy photographers have been catching prototypes of the next 3-Series since the end of 2025, but the latest photo reveals much more. What we are seeing is the sporty M350 version, as evidenced by the dual exhaust tips, massive wheels, and aerodynamic elements.
BMW has removed the heavy camouflage from the bumpers, giving us the clearest look yet at the aggressive cooling air intakes. They are located under the i3-style headlights, connected by a narrower radiator grille. In profile, the car retains a familiar silhouette with the characteristic Hofmeister kink, although the door handles are now flush-mounted. This M350 prototype also appears to have production LED taillights, as well as a regular M Performance body kit with redesigned bumpers, side skirts, a rear diffuser, and a spoiler on the trunk lid.
Platform and proportions
Despite similar dimensions and shared styling cues, the 3-Series has no mechanical link to the i3. Instead of being based on the Neue Klasse architecture, it remains on the current CLAR platform for ICE models, now with a series of improvements.
In other words, the new G50 is a significantly updated version of the current G20 3-Series, which has been in production since the end of 2018 with a facelift in 2022 and a softer revision in 2024. This is hardly bad news for BMW enthusiasts, as it means the car retains the same appealing proportions.
One of the biggest complaints about the Neue Klasse i3 was that its dash-to-axle ratio and rear overhang turned out to be smaller than usual. The gasoline-powered 3-Series corrects this with a longer hood, more vertical windshield, and larger rear overhang, giving it the look of a traditional rear-wheel-drive sedan.
Neue Klasse technology inside
Inside, the new 3-Series will almost certainly fully borrow the Neue Klasse technology from the i3, meaning the 17.9-inch infotainment system, the full-width instrument panel display, the optional 3D heads-up display, configurable ambient lighting, and the four-spoke steering wheel will be carried over.
Engines and trims
Like the model it replaces, the next 3-Series will remain available with gasoline, diesel, mild-hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrains in rear-wheel-drive and xDrive all-wheel-drive versions. North America will start with the 330 with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing around 260 hp, with the possibility of an increase if BMW refines the B48.
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Then there is the sporty M350 shown here, with a more powerful version of today’s 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six B58 engine, which is reported to exceed 400 horsepower, more than the current 386 hp in the M340 in the North American version. Whether BMW will offer both rear-wheel-drive and xDrive versions, or limit it to all-wheel drive this time, remains an open question, although an eight-speed automatic is almost certain to be standard. The fate of the M340d in the next generation remains equally uncertain.
Topping the lineup will be the gasoline-powered M3 with a mild-hybrid twin-turbo 3.0-liter six-cylinder, although this flagship sports car will arrive later in the product cycle.
When to expect it
BMW has not officially announced the launch date for the new G50 3-Series, but it could appear by the end of 2026, as production is reportedly set to begin in November 2026. Whether this compact premium sedan will reach US dealers in time for the 2027 model year is not yet known. A Touring version has also been confirmed for both the i3 and the new gasoline-powered 3-Series. BMW has opened the door for more wagons in the US following the success of the M5 Touring, but its appearance is still not certain and may be limited to the M3 on this side of the Atlantic.
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Thus, the new generation of the 3-Series looks like an evolutionary, but very important step. It combines the time-tested CLAR platform with modern design and advanced technologies that debuted on the electric i3. This allows it to retain the classic proportions that enthusiasts value so much, while simultaneously updating the interior and powertrain lineup. Particular attention is drawn to the M350 version with an engine producing over 400 hp, which promises to be a worthy replacement for the M340i. The market launch is expected by the end of 2026, and this model will undoubtedly maintain BMW’s position in the sports sedan segment, offering a compromise between modernity and the brand’s traditional values.
