Spy shots have shown that BMW has worked hard to prepare the next generation 3 Series Limousine (G50). Enthusiasts will be happy to hear that the M-Performance version is kept six-cylinder current. Today’s M340i will end up in the M350 without the “I”. The letter will gradually fall from all petrol cars, so that only the electrical models carry the “i”. As for the higher number in the nickname of the car, this is justified by additional performance.
Our sources near M have informed us that the future M350 417 hp (311 kilowatts) will bring in. It is a significant 31-hp performance over the current M340i sold in the USA. Although BMW has harder emission regulations in most parts of the world, it finds ways to add power and at the same time comply with stricter laws. It is too early to say whether the European model will continue to use an impolished engine. At the moment, the sports limousine sold on the old continent has 17 ponies less than their American siblings.
Even at 417 hp, the M350 still would not have the most powerful iteration of the B58 engine. The 3.0-liter inline-SIX from BMW was modified by Toyota so that it should push out 429 hp in the final issue of Supra A90. In the Supra-Swan song, the inline-Six is good for 420 LB-FT (570 Nm) torque. As a reference, the M340i with 500 Nm (369 LB-FT) is available in the USA and Europe.
With good authority, we have that the M350 still offers buyers a choice between return and all-wheel drive. It remains to be seen whether this will apply worldwide, although we suspect that some markets will be limited to the XDRIVE model. As some of them will remember, BMW switched off the RWD M240i in Europe last year and only left the all-PAW model.
You probably saw that, but the M340D will not live to see another generation. After all, BMW has already stopped the X3 M40D. Nevertheless, the luxury crossover recently received a six-cylinder diesel for a non-M performance version. The oil burner dies slowly in Europe and its days are probably counted. In the EU+EFTA+Great Britain region, diesel engines made up only 8.8% of total sales in the first two months of the year. ACEA notes that Diesel’s market share has dropped by 3% compared to January to 2024.
The M350 should be available from day one with the less 3 versions. BMW will start the production of the G50 in Dingolfing (and not in Munich) in November 2026. The full M3 G84, possibly only with automatic transmission and XDRIVE, will hit the assembly line in July 2028.
