Si la nouvelle génération de la BMW Série 3
marche sur les traces de ses prédécesseurs, la première remontant
déjà à 1975, c’est pour mieux s’adapter à l’ère de la
Neue Klasse. Avec une grande nouveauté :
la première Série 3 100% électrique sous forme de deux modèles disponibles dès
le lancement : la i3 40 xDrive, développant
374 ch, et la i3 50 xDrive, à 469 équidés.
Les versions thermiques disposent quant à elles de moteurs
essence à quatre et six cylindres bénéficiant de la technologie TwinPower Turbo et d’une
hybridation légère 48 volts. La gamme sera encore
élargie prochainement avec la i3 M60 xDrive M
Performance, annoncée pour 2027, ainsi qu’avec une
version hybride rechargeable. Sans oublier, au sommet de la gamme à moteur thermique, la
nouvelle M350 xDrive avec son
six-cylindres en ligne de 3,0 litres développant 443
chevaux.
Un design inspiré de la “Neue Klasse”
Starting with the exterior. The styling of the new BMW 3 Series borrows the design language introduced by the Neue Klasse while adapting it to the proportions of a sporty sedan. The silhouette adopts a modernized architecture, with a stretched wheelbase, short overhangs, more sculpted surfaces, a recessed roofline, and more pronounced wheel arches. Along the flanks, the bodywork visually seems closer to the ground, with flush door handles that automatically deploy when unlocked.
At the front, the traditional twin headlights and the kidney grille shaped like a “double kidney” are integrated into a single visual unit. On the M Performance models, yellow lighting elements, inspired by the world of racing, reinforce this identity.
At the rear, the taillights take on a more horizontal layout. The i3 can be fitted with 19- to 21-inch wheels, whereas the gasoline variants come with 18- to 20-inch wheels. Customers can also opt for the M Sport or M Sport Pro packages. The color palette includes the exclusive M Le Castellet Blue metallic, with other hues anticipated in 2027.
Habitacle repensé et nouvelles aides à la conduite
Inside, one of the main changes is the new BMW Panoramic iDrive system, built around four elements: Panoramic Vision, the 3D Head-Up Display, the central screen, and the new multifunction steering wheel. The 17.9-inch central display sits on the dashboard and is angled toward the driver. The steering wheel also features a new architecture, with a central spoke placed toward the top and new controls. M steering wheels and BMW Individual are available as options.
The cabin layout aims to feel more open, supported by a panoramic roof and generous glazing. Standard seats benefit from electric adjustment, memory, and the Travel & Comfort function. Multifunction seats and M Sport seats are available as options, as is rear-seat heating.
On the digital side, the new 3 Series also aims to push the envelope. The BMW Panoramic iDrive, running on the Operating System X, can be controlled via touchscreen, physical and haptic controls, or by voice through the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, tied to Amazon’s AI Alexa+. The new 3 Series also features a major evolution of its driver aids. The standard equipment includes active safety features and partial automation technologies. BMW also announces SAE Level 2 assistance systems, along with a new approach called Symbiotic Drive. The Motorway Assistant enables hands-free driving up to 130 mph in 21 countries ahead of the introduction, in 2027, of new features enabling partially automated driving in urban environments with navigation assistance.
Un coeur électrique : jusqu’à 912 km d’autonomie !
Let’s talk about the big breakthrough of this generation: the BMW i3. The first all-electric 3 Series developed on the Neue Klasse platform, it adopts the sixth generation of the eDrive technology. Expect several improvements: new high-voltage batteries, more efficient motors, an 800-volt architecture, and bidirectional charging. From launch, two all-wheel-drive versions are offered, each with one electric motor per axle. First, the BMW i3 50 xDrive. The most powerful variant develops 345 kW, or 469 horsepower, with a peak torque of 645 Nm. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. Its high-voltage battery capacity is 108.7 kWh, for a maximum range of up to 912 km (WLTP). Thanks to its 800-volt architecture, the i3 50 xDrive supports DC fast charging up to 400 kW. According to BMW, ten minutes on a fast charger can add enough energy to travel up to 423 km more. Next, the BMW i3 40 xDrive. This second version develops 275 kW, or 374 horsepower, and uses a high-voltage battery of 82.8 kWh. Its maximum WLTP range reaches 710 km. The electric lineup will be completed in 2027 with a more “sporty” variant: the i3 M60 xDrive M Performance.
BMW M350 xDrive : près de 450 chevaux et une fonction “drift” !
Finally, for enthusiasts who crave big torque from a gasoline setup, the flagship of the new lineup is none other than the BMW M350 xDrive. The sedan adds a 3.0-liter inline-six gasoline engine paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. This arrangement delivers up to 326 kW, i.e., 443 horsepower. It surges from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds, and its electronically limited top speed is 250 km/h (about 155 mph). The M350 xDrive comes standard with an adaptive M suspension and a new feature: Drift Moment. Accessible from the central screen, this feature, previously reserved for high-horsepower M models, lets the driver transfer engine power to the rear wheels for maximum drift. The M350 xDrive isn’t the only gasoline option in the 3 Series at launch. Two additional four-cylinder gasoline variants will join the lineup. All gasoline engines in the new 3 Series benefit from the latest generation of the BMW TwinPower Turbo and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. A plug-in hybrid version is also slated to join the lineup in the year following the launch.
