BMW is preparing to keep the combustion engine firmly in the 3 Series family even as the company pushes deeper into its Neue Klasse electric lineup. The automaker has confirmed that the next-generation combustion-powered BMW 3 Series has entered the final phase of development, with four- and six-cylinder engines set to sit alongside the fully electric BMW i3.

The announcement came as camouflaged prototypes completed another round of high-intensity testing at BMW’s proving grounds in Miramas, southern France. BMW says the testing program is focused on sharpening the car’s driving dynamics, handling and ride comfort before production begins.

The combustion 3 Series isn’t going away

BMW is taking a deliberately technology-open approach to the next 3 Series generation. Rather than replacing the combustion-powered sedan with the electric i3, the company plans to offer both types of powertrains within the same broader model family.

The new combustion-powered 3 Series will use four- and six-cylinder engines equipped with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology. BMW describes the engines as highly efficient, although it has not yet revealed detailed specifications, power figures or fuel-economy numbers for the upcoming models.

That makes the strategy notably different from simply treating the i3 as a replacement for the traditional 3 Series. Instead, BMW is positioning the two cars as different powertrain interpretations of the same core sports-sedan formula.

The fully electric BMW i3 made its design premiere in March 2026 as the second production model based on BMW’s Neue Klasse architecture, following the iX3. The company has already started i3 production at its Munich plant, with the facility scheduled to transition to exclusively fully electric Neue Klasse production from 2027.

Neue Klasse design comes to both cars

Despite their different propulsion systems, BMW says the combustion-powered 3 Series and electric i3 will share the fundamental Neue Klasse design language.

That includes a new interpretation of BMW’s familiar four-eyed front-end design, a long wheelbase, short overhangs and strongly defined body surfaces. The cars retain the classic proportions of a sporty 2.5-box sedan, while individual exterior details will vary according to the underlying drivetrain.

The same philosophy extends into the cabin. BMW says the new 3 Series will use its Panoramic iDrive display and operating system, running BMW Operating System X.

In other words, choosing the combustion model won’t mean stepping back into BMW’s previous-generation interior technology. The company is bringing its latest digital interface and Neue Klasse cockpit philosophy across the lineup.

BMW is still prioritizing driving dynamics

The latest testing at Miramas is particularly significant because BMW is now in the final stretch of series-production development.

The prototypes have already been tested in a wide range of conditions, including BMW’s winter testing center in Arjeplog, Sweden, and race tracks including the Nürburgring. At Miramas, engineers can use everything from high-speed ovals to handling circuits and different road surfaces to fine-tune the car.

BMW says the new 3 Series has a longer wheelbase than its predecessor, along with wider front and rear tracks. The chassis uses a double-joint spring-strut front axle and five-link rear axle, while new anti-roll-bar mounts are designed to improve roll control and stability.

The standard suspension will feature newly developed lift-related dampers. Buyers will also be able to specify Adaptive Suspension or Adaptive M Suspension, while optional sports tires measuring 245/35 R20 at the front and 275/30 R20 at the rear will be available for the first time on the model.

BMW is also introducing an upgraded integrated braking system and revised steering ratio, with the goal of giving drivers more precise control.

A Drift Moment is coming to the M Performance model

One particularly interesting detail is BMW’s confirmation that the next-generation 3 Series M Performance model will get the company’s Drift Moment function.

BMW says this will be the first time the feature is available in a 3 Series M Performance model. It is another indication that the company isn’t planning to abandon the performance-focused character that has helped define the 3 Series for decades.

BMW’s development team says the new generation combines its chassis hardware with an increasingly intelligent BMW Driving Stack to deliver more precise and assured behavior.

That could make the upcoming combustion 3 Series an intriguing counterpart to the electric i3. The two cars will share much of the same visual and digital identity, but their driving characters will inevitably be shaped by their different powertrains.

BMW is taking a two-track approach to the 3 Series

The upcoming lineup illustrates BMW’s broader approach to the transition toward electric vehicles. The company is investing heavily in Neue Klasse EVs, but it isn’t treating the arrival of those vehicles as an immediate end to combustion-powered models.

Instead, BMW is developing multiple versions of the 3 Series around different drivetrain technologies. The electric i3 provides the zero-emissions option, while the new four- and six-cylinder 3 Series models retain internal-combustion power with 48V mild-hybrid assistance.

For buyers who still want the familiar characteristics of a combustion-powered BMW sports sedan, that means the next 3 Series should remain an option even as BMW’s electric lineup expands.

BMW has not yet announced the complete engine lineup, pricing, final specifications or U.S. launch timing for the new combustion-powered 3 Series. For now, the company is concentrating on finishing development, with the latest prototypes undergoing their final rounds of dynamic testing in France.

The bigger takeaway is clear, though: the Neue Klasse era won’t mean the end of the combustion 3 Series. BMW intends to carry the nameplate into its next chapter with both electric and internal-combustion power.