New BMW 3 Series with ICE Completes Final Testing Laps in Miramas.

Sep 8

4 min read

The new BMW 3 Series is closing in on production readiness. As BMW has just confirmed, camouflaged prototypes are currently undergoing their final dynamic summer testing at the Miramas proving ground in southern France. The focus is on driving pleasure, lateral dynamics and ride comfort — and for the first time, a genuine M Performance feature is making its way into the 3 Series lineup: Drift Moment.

Openness to Technology as a Guiding Principle

The next generation of the combustion-engined BMW 3 Series (ICE) is now entering the final phase of series development. Alongside the fully electric BMW i3, which celebrated its design premiere in March 2026, further new 3 Series models with four- and six-cylinder engines will soon join the lineup. All units are highly efficient and feature 48-volt mild-hybrid technology. Regardless of drivetrain, every model in the new 3 Series range builds on the success story of BMW's compact sports sedans, standing for maximum driving pleasure, sportiness, precise handling and long-distance comfort.

Visually, all new 3 Series models carry the unmistakably expressive design language of the Neue Klasse, including a striking reinterpretation of BMW's signature four-eyed face. A long wheelbase, short overhangs and distinctive surfaces define the exterior of every new 3 Series. The electric i3 and its combustion-powered siblings differ only in details dictated by their respective drivetrain concepts. Inside, the design language of the Neue Klasse continues with BMW Panoramic iDrive and BMW Operating System X, ushering in an entirely new form of driver orientation and user interaction.

Fine-Tuning on the Track

At Miramas, the development team has access to a wide range of track layouts — from a high-speed oval to demanding handling courses, plus every type of road surface imaginable. This allows every aspect of driving behaviour to be analysed and optimised down to the smallest detail. Prior to this, the new 3 Series had already completed an extensive and varied test programme, including winter trials on the ice- and snow-covered tracks of the BMW Group winter test centre in Arjeplog, as well as test drives on the Nürburgring.

Dr Mihiar Ayoubi, Head of Driving Experience Development, sums up the goal: for decades, the 3 Series has set the benchmark for driving dynamics, and the perfect interplay of chassis hardware and a continuously refined, intelligent BMW Driving Stack is taking the driving experience to a new level.

In concrete terms, that means a nearly balanced axle load distribution, a longer wheelbase than its predecessor, and wider tracks front and rear. The new 3 Series features a double-joint spring strut front axle and a five-link rear axle, along with highly pre-tensioned anti-roll bar mounts and newly developed frequency-selective dampers. Buyers can opt for either the Adaptive suspension or the Adaptive M suspension. New to the range are also sport tyres in the sizes 245/35 R20 at the front and 275/30 R20 at the rear.

The New BMW M350 xDrive: Six Cylinders and Drift Moment

The dynamic flagship of the new lineup is the BMW M350 xDrive. As the only model in the new 3 Series generation, it is powered by a six-cylinder engine — specifically a 3.0-litre BMW TwinPower Turbo inline-six with 48-volt mild-hybrid support. System output stands at 326 kW/443 hp with 580 Nm of torque, paired as standard with an 8-speed BMW Steptronic transmission, BMW xDrive all-wheel drive, Adaptive M suspension, M Sport differential and variable sport steering. The sprint from 0 to 100 km/h takes just 4.1 seconds, with a top speed of 250 km/h. Production is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026.

The real highlight, however, is the new Drift Moment function: at the push of a button on the central display, all drive power is shifted entirely to the rear wheels — a driving sensation previously reserved for high-performance models from BMW M GmbH. Combined with the M-typical control of the multi-plate clutch and DSC switched off, the result is a purist, thoroughly analogue driving experience. The feature will become available during the course of 2027 — and not just for new vehicles: cars already delivered will receive Drift Moment via a remote software upgrade.

Two Driving Stacks, One Goal: Driving Pleasure

There's also plenty happening under the software's hood. In the fully electric i3, the Heart of Joy central computer works together with the BMW Dynamic Performance Control driving stack to shape the driving experience. In the combustion-powered models, meanwhile, an optimised, intelligent BMW Driving Stack takes over, purpose-built for this type of drivetrain. Its lateral dynamics management bundles all agility-enhancing driving functions, including the dynamic all-wheel-drive system — meaning driving pleasure remains the guiding principle here too, just tailored to the respective drivetrain.

Rounding things off is BMW EfficientDynamics: an efficient 48-volt electrical system, My Mode Efficient, active air flap control and a forward-looking Efficiency Coach are all designed to keep range and consumption in check despite the sporty setup.

With final summer testing now underway in Miramas, the market launch of the new BMW 3 Series is drawing closer. The openness to different drivetrain technologies, the striking Neue Klasse design, and a genuine M Performance feature like Drift Moment all point in the same direction: BMW is determined to carry the compact sports sedan's success story forward — electrically with the i3, but just as much with four- and six-cylinder combustion engines, spearheaded by the potent M350 xDrive. As these are still prototype figures, official consumption and pricing details remain to be confirmed — we'll keep you posted as soon as BMW reveals more.