Here it is – the all-new, eighth-generation BMW 3 Series. Not to be confused with the recently revealed electric-only i3, what you’re looking at here is the direct replacement for the current petrol and plug-in hybrid 3 Series models. It goes on sale in early 2027 as a saloon, with a Touring estate version to follow later in the year.
Here’s all the key info on the 2027 BMW 3 Series.
2027 BMW 3 Series Price, Specs and Release Date
- 2027 BMW 3 Series Price, Specs and Release Date
- 2027 BMW 3 Series styling and dimensions
- 2027 BMW 3 Series interior design and practicality
- 2027 BMW 3 Series engines and driving dynamics
- 2027 BMW 3 Series price and release date
2027 BMW 3 Series styling and dimensions
The new BMW 3 Series is the latest model to adopt the brand’s latest ‘Neue Klasse’ design language, which was first seen on the iX3 SUV and subsequently on the i3 electric saloon.
At first glance the 3 Series appears to be identical to the i3, and the two cars share many design elements. At the front there’s the same ‘shark nose’ profile, along with an interpretation of BMW’s famous ‘double kidney’ grille as part of flush panels that also include the headlights. The basic design of the bumper, bonnet and front wings is fundamentally the same, too.
It’s the same story at the rear, where the 3 Series has what appears to be an identical design to the i3, featuring a very squared-off boot lid, slim rear lights and lots of sharp creases.
There are bigger, although still subtle, differences at the side. While the two cars have a similar profile, the 3 Series has a curvier roofline and a more steeply angled windscreen. The 3 Series also has noticeably different proportions, with a longer front end and a greater distance between the front door and front wheel.
Under the skin, the new 3 Series uses an updated version of the same basic platform as the current petrol-powered car. The i3 has entirely different underpinnings, shared with the iX3 SUV.
The new 3 Series has grown slightly compared with the current petrol-powered model. It’s 52mm (about 2 inches) longer, 23mm (just under an inch) wider and 15mm taller, while the wheelbase has grown by 9mm. That means the 3 Series is still roughly the same size as key rivals such as the Audi A5 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Compared with the i3, the new 3 Series is a few millimetres longer, but slightly narrower and lower.
The slightly longer wheelbase should give the new 3 Series a fraction more rear legroom than the current car, but it retains a transmission tunnel (the raised floor section that runs down the centre of the car), so it won’t offer as much foot space for rear passengers as the i3’s flat floor does.
The new M350 xDrive replaces the previous M340i xDrive. It has a turbocharged 3.0-litre, six-cylinder engine and ‘xDrive’ all-wheel drive as standard. Maximum power is 437bhp – a 50bhp increase over the M340i xDrive.
