BMW has unveiled its new combustion-engined 3 Series, and South African buyers will be able to choose a six-cylinder M350 xDrive performance model when the latest generation sedan reaches showrooms in the first quarter of 2027. The new 3 Series adopts BMW's Neue Klasse design language, first seen on the company's latest electric models, while keeping petrol powertrains with 48V mild-hybrid technology.
The M350 xDrive heads the range. It pairs a 3,0-litre turbo-charged six-cylinder petrol engine with a 48V mild-hybrid system and all-wheel drive. Output is 326 kW and 580 Nm, which BMW says is enough for a 0-100 km/h time of 4,1 seconds.
The M350 xDrive also introduces a Drift Moment function, which lets the driver send engine power to the rear wheels through a setting accessed on the central display.
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South Africa will also receive the four-cylinder BMW 320. Its 2,0-litre turbo-charged petrol engine with 48V mild-hybrid assistance produces 155 kW and 330 Nm.
Both models use an eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission, with xDrive all-wheel drive fitted to the M350 xDrive.
The new 3 Series has a longer wheelbase, short overhangs, a set-back glasshouse and more pronounced wheel arches. Flush-fitting door handles extend automatically when the vehicle is unlocked.
At the front, the BMW kidney grille and twin headlights form a single visual unit, while the rear uses a mainly horizontal light arrangement.
Inside, the Neue Klasse approach centres on 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.
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The 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.
BMW says the new 3 Series will offer 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, 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.
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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 built at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing in Germany, while the fully electric i3 is produced 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 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.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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