The Bavarian automaker is on the final stretch of summer driving dynamics testing in Miramas, in southern France, and found time to give us a few cool shots of the upcoming BMW 3 Series ahead of officially dropping the funky camouflage.
BMW kicked off the Neue Klasse revolution a year ago with the unveiling of the NA5 second-generation BMW iX3 electric compact luxury crossover SUV featuring both the dedicated Neue Klasse EV platform as well as the interior and exterior design. They followed it earlier this year in spring with the NA0 second-generation BMW i3 electric compact executive car using the same coordinates, plus a few other models.
More precisely, the mid-cycle refresh of the BMW 7 Series flagship limousine only adopted the Neue Klasse ethos inside and premiered the passenger screen for the BMA Panoramic Vision cockpit. Meanwhile, the G65 fifth-generation BMW X5 mid-size luxury crossover SUV is an exponent of the Neue Klasse both inside and outside, while the architecture remains the same as before, CLAR, to allow the adoption of no less than five different powertrains: gasoline, diesel, PHEV, BEV, and FCEV.
Now it seems that BMW is about to introduce the new BMW 3 Series with ICE powertrains, and the eighth generation of the compact executive car line has recently completed the final round of summer driving dynamics testing in Miramas, France. The camouflaged prototypes lap the test tracks at BMW Group’s proving grounds in southern France, but the company found time for a beauty photo session.
Unfortunately, the 2027 or 2028 BMW 3 Series remains heavily camouflaged, though it’s not hard to notice the Neue Klasse design ethos. On the bright side, the Bavarian automaker has shared additional juicy details about the technical specifications, including the availability of the Drift Moment system for the first time in a BMW 3 Series M Performance model.
More precisely, the upcoming all-new BMW 3 Series will have both four- and six-cylinder engines complete with 48V mild hybrid technology as well as the Neue Klasse design inside and out, including BMW Panoramic iDrive with BMW Operating System X. BMW also says the new 3 Series will have “almost perfectly balanced distribution of weight between the axles” thanks to a longer wheelbase, an upgraded integrated braking system, adjustments to the steering, as well as newly developed lift-related dampers for the standard suspension.
The lineup will be headed by the new flagship version BMW M350 xDrive, the only model with a six-cylinder engine, also packing standard BMW xDrive all-wheel drive along with the eight-speed BMW Steptronic transmission and 48V mild hybrid technology. The combined output is no less than 326 kW or 443 ps or 437 hp, allowing it to sprint to 62 mph or 100 kph in 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph or 250 kph. The new model will also come standard with an adaptive M suspension, the M Sport differential, and variable sport steering.