BMW Recasts the 3 Series

BMW has introduced the eighth-generation 3 Series with a choice of fully electric and mild-hybrid petrol powertrains, bringing its Neue Klasse technology to one of the brand’s longest-running model lines.

The biggest addition is the BMW i3, the first fully electric 3 Series sedan. It shares its exterior design and much of its interior technology with the combustion-engine models, although the two use different vehicle architectures and driving systems.

Leading the electric range is the BMW i3 50 xDrive, which produces 469 horsepower and 645 Nm of torque from two electric motors. It accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and offers a claimed driving range of up to 912 kilometers under the WLTP testing cycle.

Its 108.7-kWh battery operates on an 800-volt electrical architecture and supports DC fast charging at up to 400 kW. BMW says the vehicle can recover up to 423 kilometers of driving range in just 10 minutes under ideal charging conditions.

The second electric variant, the BMW i3 40 xDrive, develops 374 horsepower and 520 Nm of torque. It has an 82.8-kWh battery, a maximum WLTP range of 710 kilometers and DC charging capability of up to 300 kW.

BMW is also retaining petrol power in the new-generation 3 Series.

The entry-level BMW 318 produces 156 horsepower, while the BMW 320 delivers 211 horsepower. Both use 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines supported by 48-volt mild-hybrid technology.

At the top of the combustion-engine range is the BMW M350 xDrive, equipped with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six producing 443 horsepower and 580 Nm of torque. It can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds.

All versions adopt BMW’s latest Neue Klasse design language, including a revised kidney grille integrated with the headlights, a longer wheelbase and redesigned rear lighting.

Inside, the new 3 Series features BMW Panoramic iDrive, which combines a 17.9-inch central touchscreen with information projected across the lower windscreen. BMW Operating System X also supports updated digital services and advanced driver assistance functions.

The electric i3 is manufactured at BMW’s Munich plant, where series production began in August 2026. Petrol-powered versions are scheduled for production at the company’s Dingolfing facility beginning in November.

BMW plans to introduce a plug-in hybrid variant and the higher-performance electric i3 M60 xDrive in 2027.

Orders opened in Germany on 30 September 2026. Philippine pricing and availability have not been announced.