BMW has officially revealed the new combustion-engined 3 Series, which will be available in South Africa with the six-cylinder M350 xDrive performance model. The M350 xDrive combines a 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engine with a 48V mild-hybrid system and all-wheel drive, producing 326kW and 580Nm. This allows the M350 xDrive to accelerate from 0-100km/h in a claimed 4.1 seconds. The new 3 Series adopts BMW's Neue Klasse design language, first introduced on its latest electric models.
The new 3 Series range in South Africa will also include the four-cylinder BMW 320, which uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 48V mild-hybrid assistance, producing 155kW and 330Nm. Both models use an eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission, with xDrive all-wheel drive fitted to the M350 xDrive. The new 3 Series features a longer wheelbase, short overhangs, a set-back glasshouse, and more pronounced wheel arches. The design also includes flush-fitting door handles that extend automatically when the vehicle is unlocked.
The front of the new 3 Series fully embraces the Neue Klasse look, with the BMW kidney grille and twin headlights incorporated into a single visual unit. At the rear, the car uses a predominantly horizontal light arrangement. The interior brings the Neue Klasse approach to the 3 Series, centred around BMW Panoramic iDrive. This combines BMW Panoramic Vision, an optional 3D Head-Up Display, a 17.9-inch central display, and a redesigned multifunction steering wheel.
The BMW Panoramic iDrive system runs on BMW Operating System X, which is based on the Android Open Source Project and is designed to support regular software and feature updates. The BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant also incorporates Amazon Alexa+ AI technology. The new 3 Series will feature a range of standard and optional driver assistance systems, including SAE Level 2 functions for partially automated driving and parking.
The new-generation 3 Series shares its underlying technological architecture with the fully electric BMW i3, which was previously revealed as the first electric 3 Series based on the Neue Klasse platform. The i3 50 xDrive will be offered in South Africa alongside the petrol models. The electric i3 uses BMW's sixth-generation eDrive technology, including an 800V electrical architecture and cylindrical-cell battery technology.
For the combustion-engined models, BMW says its latest-generation TwinPower Turbo engines have been developed to work with the 48V mild-hybrid system. The new BMW 3 Series will be produced at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing in Germany, while the fully electric i3 is built at the company's Munich plant. The BMW 320, M350 xDrive, and i3 50 xDrive are scheduled to arrive in South Africa during the first quarter of 2027.
BMW says final specifications for the local models will be confirmed closer to their introduction. A plug-in hybrid version is also planned for the 3 Series range over the coming year. The M350 xDrive also introduces a Drift Moment function, which allows the driver to send engine power to the rear wheels through a setting accessed via the central display.
Key points
- The new BMW 3 Series will be available in South Africa with the six-cylinder M350 xDrive performance model.
- The new 3 Series adopts BMW's Neue Klasse design language, first introduced on its latest electric models.
- The BMW 320, M350 xDrive, and i3 50 xDrive are scheduled to arrive in South Africa during the first quarter of 2027.
