- M340i replacement will be called M350 and is expected to produce up to 420 hp.
- Rear- and all-wheel drive layouts will return paired to an eight-speed automatic.
- Neue Klasse-inspired design refresh brings slimmer grilles and a reimagined dash.
If you’re into cars that actually make you feel something when you drive, you’ve probably imagined yourself behind the wheel of an M3. We certainly have. It’s one of the best performance sedans out there. But just below it in BMW’s lineup sits the M340i, a more affordable option that blends serious power with the kind of comfort and practicality you can actually live with every day.
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Also: BMW’s Next M350 Is Getting A Major Design Overhaul
While BMW works on the next-gen M3, which will come in both combustion and electric versions, engineers in Munich are also quietly preparing a new version of the more attainable M340i. That model is about to evolve, with some key updates to keep it competitive in the brand’s shifting performance lineup.
The replacement will be called the M350, part of BMW’s effort to update its model naming for the Neue Klasse era. The familiar ‘i’ is being dropped, now reserved exclusively for electric models. The numerical jump from ‘40’ to ‘50’ also points to a performance boost. And yes, we’ve got the spy shots to prove it, with the new M350 caught testing at the Nurburgring.
Familiar Platform, More Power
Unlike the next-gen electric 3-Series, to be named the i3, which will shift to BMW’s Neue Klasse platform, the refreshed ICE range is expected to stick with the current CLAR underpinnings. Like the M340i, the M350 will be powered by BMW’s 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder B58 engine, albeit modified to produce upwards of 400 hp, possibly flirting with the 420 hp mark.
That’s a solid jump from the current 382 hp, particularly when you consider the B58 is being updated to comply with Euro 7 regulations, bringing its performance even closer to today’s M3.
Rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions are expected to carry over, along with the same eight-speed automatic transmission. If you’re holding out hope for a manual option, you might want to sit down. It’s not impossible, but very unlikely BMW will go that route here.
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Neue Design, Familiar Shape
On the design front, the M350 will be refreshed with some of the Neue Klasse styling cues we’ll soon start to see across the brand. Expect a redesigned front end featuring slimmer headlights and a wider, slimmer version of BMW’s kidney grilles. Out back, the prototype wears quad tailpipes and a subtle lip spoiler, with big wheels wrapped in low-profile tires hinting at the car’s performance credentials.
The overall shape stays classic 3-Series, with a traditional three-box silhouette and a fresh take on BMW’s signature Hofmeister kink at the rear door.
Big Changes Inside
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We don’t get a look inside this prototype, but based on what BMW has revealed about the next 3-Series, the interior will be a major departure from what we know today. Expect the company’s new ‘Panoramic iDrive’ layout, which ditches the conventional instrument cluster.
Instead, a two-inch, full-width display sits at the base of the windshield, showing driving info directly in front of the driver, with customizable modules on the right. The infotainment setup will also include a large trapezoidal screen at the center of the dashboard.
Availability
Production for the next-generation 3-Series, including the M350, is set to begin in late 2026. That means it’ll be a while before we see the finished product in person, and even longer before anyone gets the chance to put it through its paces on the road or track.