The Chrysler ME Four-Twelve might just be the most fascinating supercar you’ve never seen on the road. A rare mix of outrageous performance and serious engineering, it showed up, flexed hard, then vanished just as quickly. It remains, perhaps, the ultimate American ‘what if’ supercar.

Read: Chrysler Celebrates 100 Years By Slapping A Sticker On A Minivan

But let’s rewind the clock. Back in 2004, during the DaimlerChrysler era, Chrysler dropped jaws when it rolled out the ME Four-Twelve, a fully operational concept that looked like it had all the ingredients to become America’s next great halo car. But despite looking production-ready and packing a powertrain worthy of the big leagues, it never actually made it past the prototype phase.

When I was a kid, I used to love driving around in the ME Four-Twelve on Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition, and had it been built, it could have served as the perfect rival to the Ford GT of the time.

AMG Power and Unreal Performance Numbers

Rather than some parts-bin special, the ME Four-Twelve came with a 6.0-liter V12 based on the AMG M120 – yes, the same engine architecture that powered Mercedes’ finest and some early Paganis too. Chrysler engineers gave it twin turbochargers, dialed up the output to 850 horsepower (862 PS / 634 kW), and mated it to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission sending power to the rear wheels.

Weighing just 2,888 pounds (1,310 kg), the ME Four-Twelve was said to hit 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds and reach 100 mph in 6.2 seconds. It could cover the quarter-mile in 10.6 seconds and had a claimed top speed of 248 mph (399 km/h). Had it entered production, it would have been the fastest car in the world at the time. Even by today’s standards, those figures still hold their own in the hypercar arena.

And this wasn’t some non-functional motor show mockup. Chrysler actually built a fully drivable prototype and even let journalists get behind the wheel. It was real. It existed. And then… it didn’t.

Chrysler Wanted to Build It. Sort Of

Chrysler’s top brass at the time, Dieter Zetsche and Wolfgang Bernhard, told MotorTrend in late 2004, “If the reception is positive, we are definitely going to build this baby.” Not exactly a commitment, but it sounded hopeful. Rumor had it that if the car made it to production, it would be priced anywhere from $250,000 to $750,000.

Zetsche added that Chrysler could work out costs depending on how many people signed up. Ten cars, 100 cars, 1,000 cars, everything was apparently on the table. “There’s no doubt” he’d greenlight the car, he told the magazine, if enough buyers were ready.

But of course, that never happened. The ME Four-Twelve faded into concept car lore, and Chrysler eventually faded into one of the saddest automakers on the market: a brand now propped up by a pair of differently named, but virtually identical minivans, trying to squeeze some excitement out of sticker packages and nostalgia.

An Independent Renaissance

But what if, to help celebrate its ongoing 100th anniversary, Chrysler decided to revive the ME Four-Twelve? At a time when high-end, limited-run exotics are more common now than any time in the past, this could be the type of vehicle the company needs to save it from itself.

Illustrations Abimelec Design

This revitalized ME Four-Twelve comes from the mind of Abimelec Design and takes the original study, but adds some modern touches. Incredibly, while the overall design of the Chrysler is more than two decades old, it still looks absolutely brilliant.

The most obvious change made by the designer is the huge rear wing lifted from a Koenigsegg. It’s also been fitted with a new front splitter, an eye-catching orange paint scheme, and a set of new silver wheels. Found inside the cabin is a mixture of bright blue leather and Alcantara.

While we don’t ever expect to see a car like this being built, Stellantis design boss Ralph Gilles did recently reveal the conglomerate will “experiment” with the Chrysler brand. What that actually means is anyone’s guess, though it’s probably safe to assume it won’t involve anything as wild as the ME Four-Twelve.

John Halas contributed to this story.

Chevy’s current Colorado is one of the better midsize pickups out there, offering everything you need but missing the one thing you probably don’t really need but definitely want; a V8 engine. Rewind the clock back to 2009, though, and the Colorado did offer a meaty eight-cylinder engine.

Review: Chevy’s 2025 Colorado ZR2 Bison Surprised Me In All The Right And Wrong Ways

While that version was short-lived, only lasting a few years, you can still find a few lingering in the used market. In fact, two V8 Colorados just sold for over $17,000 in the past couple of months, proving there’s still some love for these trucky throwbacks.

The V8 That Almost Wasn’t

At first, the Colorado didn’t come with a V8 option. Chevrolet originally offered it with either a 2.9-liter inline-four or a 3.7-liter inline-five. But after GM decided to pull the plug on Hummer, it was left with a stockpile of 5.3-liter V8 engines with nowhere to go. Since the two trucks shared a chassis, it was a seamless fit. So, in a rare moment of engine overstock serendipity, GM decided to stuff these V8s into special editions of both the Colorado and the GMC Canyon.

Chevy offered the V8 as part of a limited edition 3LT package priced at $3,995. It was available in extended cab and crew cab configurations. The 5.3-liter V8 produced 300 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque, providing a healthy boost of 60 horsepower and 115 horsepower over the 5-cylinder and 4-cylinder models respectively.

The V8 was paired with GM’s Hydra-Matic 4L60 four-speed automatic transmission, with MotorTrend magazine clocking the 0-60 mph (97 km/h) sprint in a brisk 6.9 seconds and the quarter-mile at 15.2 seconds. In comparison, the 240-horsepower 5-cylinder model took 9.6 seconds to reach 60 mph and 16.7 seconds for the quarter-mile.

Beyond the beefy V8, Chevy also equipped the limited-production Colorado with the ZQ8 suspension, lowering the truck by an inch. This was all part of the 3LT package, which also included six-spoke wheels with 235/50 tires, body-colored bumpers and grille, and special seats.

Modified or Original? Both Have Their Appeal

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Last month, a 2011 model was sold on Bring a Trailer for $17,500, showing that there’s still plenty of demand for these special trucks. That’s hardly a surprise as GM is understood to have only produced a few thousand of them.

This particular 3LT had been modified with a new camshaft, upgraded cylinder head components, and long-tube exhaust headers. It also sits on lowered suspension, Monroe shocks, Calvert Racing traction bars, and includes a new limited-slip differential. The four-speed automatic transmission had also been built with a new clutch and shafts. It was sold with 96,000 miles on the clock.

Earlier this year, a lower-mileage, more original Colorado 3LT traded hands for $17,100. That truck was painted black with red pinstripes and was a rare extended-cab model, making it one of just 312 built between 2009 and 2012. The V8 engine of this model was mostly standard, but did include a cold air intake and an aftermarket catback exhaust.

While there are still several pickup trucks available with V8s in the US, including the recent return of the full-size Ram 1500 with a Hemi, there are no mid-size pickups with eight-cylinder engines. That’s a shame and perhaps explains why people are looking at bygone eras of pickups to get their V8 fix.

John Halas contributed to this story.

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When your vehicle lineup is as huge as Mercedes-Benz’s, getting all of those cars and SUVs singing from the same design hymn sheet is no small matter. The 2024 E-Class and 2026 CLA introduced new styling elements to create a fresh family face for Mercedes vehicles, but those tweaks still have to be rolled out to older models, including three of the automaker’s bigger SUVs.

However, judging from the flurry of Mercedes R&D activity at the Nurburgring this month, it looks like we won’t have long to wait to see the result. Two regular GLE SUVs, a GLE coupe and a GLS were all spotted at the Ring putting in some endurance miles with very little in the way of disguise obscuring their new features.

Related: Will More Power Than A Veyron Convince You This Electric SUV Is A True AMG?

The three distinct types of SUVs are all getting the same makeover that includes a new-look grille like the one introduced on the current E-Class. While most recent Benzes have set their relatively small grilles directly into a body-color bumper, the E-Class brought back the grille frame, a feature that had been a Mercedes staple for decades.

That frame makes the grilles more prominent on the GLEs, and so more instantly recognizable, but those grilles are also taller than the ones they replace and have a new mesh design that again tips a hat to historic Mercedes designs. The new look ditches the fat horizontal bar either side of the circular badge as part of a refresh designed to keep the ageing midsize SUVs pulling customers away from BMW’s new X5, which debuts next year.

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The three-row GLS doesn’t have to worry about the X5, but it can’t dismiss the threat posed by Audi’s new Q7, also slated for a 2026 launch. Like the GLE, it gets a taller grille, but this one adds three formal grille bars for a very traditional Mercedes look. And both the GLE and GLS will get both star-shaped taillights, which first appeared on the E-Class, as well as star-shaped DRLs that arrived with this year’s CLA sedan.

Mercedes previously facelifted the GLE and GLS in 2023 for the 2024 model year, so we’d expect these tightened-up SUVs to arrive midway through the 2026 model year, or in time for the start of the 2027 season.

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While there probably aren’t many people in the US who cross-shop a Ford Mustang Dark Horse and a Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, these two offer similar thrills for around the same price.

Sure, the CT4-V Blackwing has four doors compared to the Mustang’s two, as well as two fewer cylinders, but both are among the best performance cars currently on sale. Which is quicker?

Read: New Cadillac CT4-V And CT5-V Blackwing Special Editions Pay Homage To Le Mans

To find out, Edmunds arranged one of its customary U-drag races at an airfield, involving a sprint down the quarter-mile, a high-speed U-turn, and then racing back to the start/finish line. The CT4-V Blackwing used was the standard model with the available 10-speed automatic transmission, while the Dark Horse included the Handling Package and the optional 10-speed auto.

In the first race, the CT4-V pulls out a small lead, despite its twin-turbocharged V6 being capped at 472 hp, whereas the Mustang’s 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 delivers 500 hp. However, as the speeds started to build, the Mustang began to claw back the Cadillac.

Both cars entered the braking zone neck and neck, but the Mustang completed the U-turn much quicker and was able to sprint back down the straight, leaving the Blackwing for dead.

Second Run, Same Story

The drivers switched for the second race, and once again, the CT4-V got the better launch. The duo again hit the U-turn area alongside each other, but once again, the Mustang proved a little quicker. As the two cars sped towards the finish line, the Mustang pulled ahead thanks to its extra power.

Interestingly, the Mustang also came ahead when looking back at the numbers. It ran to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 4.3 seconds compared to the 4.5 seconds needed by the Cadillac. It also completed the quarter-mile in 12.5 seconds, whereas the CT4-V’s best time was 12.8 seconds. The Ford ultimately finished the U-drag race in 34.9 seconds compared to the 35.7-second time of the Cadillac.

One asterisk worth noting: tires. The Dark Horse wears Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS rubber, which offers noticeably more grip than the CT4-V Blackwing Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, even if those Michelins are nothing to scoff at. Still, when it came to the stopwatch, the Mustang had the edge – grip, power, and all.

Since its debut in 2022, the BMW G87 M2 has become a canvas for tuners, who’ve slapped on a variety of visual, chassis, and performance upgrades. But none of these modifications even come close to the wild, dramatic stance of the M2-KS, created by independent designer Khyzyl Saleem.

What started as a digital project to showcase Saleem’s vision for his personal M2 could very well be more than just a concept. Given the designer’s history of bringing his extreme ideas to life with the help of tuners, it’s not hard to imagine this dream car finding its way into the real world.

More: New BMW M2 Racer Channels E30 M3 Spirit With 4-Cylinder Turbo

The M2-KS features extensive visual upgrades, drawing inspiration from the BMW 2002 Hommage Concept that debuted in 2016. Though that concept was based on the previous generation M2 and never made it to production, its design ethos clearly lives on in this project. Key visual cues include the wide fenders with integrated vents and the prominent side intakes, both of which give the M2 a more aggressive, track-ready look.

At the front, the redesigned bumper and fenders cover the upper portion of the headlights, giving a more aggressive glance to the smallest BMW M. This is accentuated by the larger intakes, and the pronounced splitter, which are joined by a revised kidney grille. Another notable touch is the sculpted vented hood, which ditches the standard model’s typical bulge for a cleaner, sportier appearance.

Rear End Gets Even More Dramatic

At the rear, Saleem has gone all-in with a significantly larger ducktail spoiler and ultra-wide rear fenders. The diffuser is also larger than what you’ll find on the factory M2, housing a set of quad exhaust pipes for that added visual punch. Smoked finish accents can be found around the extra inlets beneath the taillights, all of which work together to give the M2 a more exotic, high-performance look. The overall shape of the bumpers and aggressive aero elements make this M2 a real showstopper.

Saleem didn’t get into details about any proposed performance or chassis modifications, but the model appears to sit on lowered suspension with wider tracks. Furthermore, these looks set the tone for a potential power boost alongside a few track-focused upgrades.

More: BMW’s Most Driver-Focused M2 Drops The One Thing Real Drivers Care The Most

Currently, the most potent production version of the G87 is the M2 CS, which is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine producing 523 horsepower (390 kW / 530 PS) and 479 lb-ft (649 Nm) of torque. However, tuners like Manhart have been known to push the M2 to as much as 705 horsepower (526 kW / 715 PS), proving there’s plenty of room for improvement.

The digital project sparked some serious curiosity about the possibility of a coachbuilt M2. BMW has proven that buyers are interested in low-volume models such as the recent Skytop and Speedtop which share their underpinnings with the 8-Series, or the M4-based BMW 3.0 CSL from 2022. So, will someone please make this little beast a reality?

Khyzyl Saleem / Facebook

While used cars prices have generally been creeping upward in the United States since late last summer, not every vehicle is following the same script. Some models are actually shedding value – and fast. Leading the pack in this reverse race is none other than Tesla, according to a new study that analyzed resale trends.

Considering the company’s recent string of turbulent headlines and its larger-than-life CEO, Elon Musk, who’s never exactly at arm’s length from controversy, it’s not exactly shocking. Add in the uphill battle electric vehicles still face in resale value, and it starts to make even more sense.

Read: Ford Loses Second Spot As EV War Heats Up In America

The analysis, which examined 2.4 million used cars between one and five years old, compared prices from May 2024 to May 2025. It found the average used car in the US now costs $32,317, a noticeable increase from $30,673 last June and a solid rebound from the December 2024 low of $29,651. But for Tesla, the story is going in the opposite direction.

Tesla Tops the List for Price Plunges

According to data from iSeeCars, Tesla models dominate the list of used vehicles with the steepest year-over-year price declines. The biggest drop came from the Model S, which is now averaging $46,503 on the used market. That’s down a hefty $8,837 from last year, a 16% tumble.

This comes just as Tesla gave the Model S a $5,000 price bump for some light tweaks, making the used market look like the more sensible option, assuming you’re into big electric sedans that are almost old enough to apply for their own driver’s license.

The far more popular Model Y wasn’t far behind, with used prices dropping 14.2%, or $4,945, to an average of $29,789. Perhaps unsurprisingly, another EV was in third: the Porsche Taycan. Average used prices have collapsed 12.7% year-over-year, dropping $10,998 to $75,644. The Ford Explorer Hybrid was also a poor performer with an 11.3% reported decline, down to $31,811.

1-5 Year-Old Used Cars With Biggest Price Drops: 2025 Vs 2024

Rounding out the top five is the Tesla Model 3, with average used prices down 10.8%, representing a $3,078 drop to $25,361. Other notable underperformers include the Jeep Gladiator (down 10.7%), Ford Escape PHEV (down 9.9%), Maserati Levante (down 9.5%), and the Tesla Model X, which slid 8.9% to an average of $54,004.

“Multiple factors contribute to a used car’s value, but being an electric vehicle and wearing the ‘Tesla’ brand appears to be a double negative,” said Karl Brauer, executive analyst at iSeeCars.

Interestingly, the average prices of used EVs are declining at a slower rate than previously. The study has revealed that in June 2024, average EV prices dropped by a massive 29.1% or $11,764 from June 2023. By comparison, the difference year-over-year between May 2025 and May 2024 has been -8.8% or $2,993.

As far as brands are concerned, Tesla also takes the top spot with the sharpest overall value decline, dropping 8.4% year-over-year. That translates to an average $2,809 loss per used vehicle. Chrysler and Dodge followed, with declines of around 6% to 6.5%, and luxury players like Maserati and Genesis weren’t far behind, down 4.6% and 5.3% respectively. Even brands like Nissan, Buick, and Chevrolet saw small dips.

Car Brands With The Biggest Price Drops: 2025 Vs 2024

Average Prices of 1-5 Year-Old Used Cars: 2025 Vs 2024

Average Prices of 1-5 Year-Old Used EVs: 2025 Vs 2024

The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Final Edition is what we called the ultimate Wrangler after testing it. We even called it a muscle car that can rock crawl, which sounds like an impressive combination, right? Well, we did also note that it had one glaring issue: buying it felt like paying for both a rock crawler and a muscle car at the same time.

Fast forward to a recent auction, where a nearly new example proves that the 392 Final Edition’s pricing may have been a tad, well, out of touch. And that’s if we’re being generous.

More: Not Even An Accident And 3K Miles Could Stop This Porsche From Selling For $36K Over MSRP

This particular SUV that just exchanged hands originally carried a base price of $91,545 before any extras. That’s already quite hefty for a hardcore off-roader. Stack on special paint, a retractable roof, and, of course, the 392 Final Edition package, and the MSRP balloons to $107,000! Yikes.

Now, after largely sitting in a garage and gathering just 40 miles on the clock, it sold for $83,000 on Cars&Bids. It’s not as if this Wrangler is missing some vital component either.

Under the hood is the big party piece for this trim, a 470 horsepower (350 kW) V8 mated to an eight-speed gearbox and four-wheel drive. It has an onboard air compressor, heated front seats, an Alpine sound system, beadlock-capable wheels, a Warn winch, and heavy-duty rock sliders.

Price: A Tough Pill to Swallow

In reality, this selling price shouldn’t be all that shocking. When we reviewed the Wrangler 392, our number one gripe was pricing. Then, many of you echoed that concern in the comment section. One said,”And this is why Stellantis can’t sell cars. This is a $65k vehicle at most, but they think a base of $91k is reasonable.”

Jeep’s North American head even admitted in January that the brand went too far with pricing on the Wagoneer. That’s one reason it cut pricing on the big family mover. Who knows, maybe someone with a bit more sense will eventually make a similar call on the Wrangler pricing down the line.

The Final Edition That’s Never Really Final

It’s also worth mentioning that Ram’s recent reintroduction of the Hemi V8 could have something to do with this. Jeep could very well bring the Hemi back to the Wrangler too, and if that happens, this Final Edition may not feel so, well, final after all.

Just look at those who bought a Hellcat Durango thinking it was the end, or consider the fact that Jeep already rolled out a 2025 Final Edition after this one. So, it was never exactly the rare gem it was made out to be – nor is it out of the question that history won’t repeat itself with the Wrangler. Guess those who paid MSRP for one would be very upset if it did, but it wouldn’t be the first time Stellantis backtracks on its word now, would it?

Photos Cars&Bids

How much would expect to pay for shiny new midsize or large SUV? Around $40,000 at best, and perhaps as much as $70k, right? Now imagine bagging something like that for just $7,000, the kind of money that right now would get you into a 15-year-old Toyota Corolla with almost 200,000 miles (320,000 km) on the odometer.

It sounds absurd, but one senior auto exec thinks it’s a real possibility. Not in the US or Europe, unfortunately, but in China, where the auto industry is on the verge of imploding due to a price war that will inevitably wipe out multiple brands over the next few years.

Why Leapmotor’s Boss Thinks Costs Will Tumble Down

Leapmotor CEO Zhu Jiangming said in a recent interview that it would be “reasonable for automakers to sell a mid-to-large SUV for 50,000 yuan (7,000 USD)” in the future. Those are the kind of numbers that would make a Western car boss like Ford’s Jim Farley laugh out loud – and, in the future, probably burst into tears at the prospect of a possible takeover. And remember, Stellantis, the parent company of Jeep, owns 20 percent of Leapmotor.

Also: EV Discounts Hit Record High In China And That’s Bad News

Just ask the likes of Volvo or MG, to name but two legacy brands that were bought, and saved, by the Chinese. Or Jaguar and Land Rover, two of the British crown’s jewels, that are owned by Tata Motors (whomever said history is not without a sense of irony was dead right). Sadly for Saab that was condemned under GM’s stewardship, its own rescue attempt was too little, too late; then again, in the industry, we’ve learned to never say never…

Cars As White Goods? But Of Course They Are!

Back to Zhu Jiangming’s claims. One may dismiss them how much they want, but he has some proven case studies from other industries to back up the theory. It’s all to do with how advancing technology and the integration of chips could radically reduce the build costs for modern vehicles. Zhu cited the case of electronic products such as big 100-inch TVs, which now sell in China for less than $850, CarNewsChina reports. Or air conditioning units that can now be bought for just over $150.

Leapmotor still has some way to go before it can start advertising BMW X5-sized SUVs for $7,000. Its six-seat C16 costs from $24,000-27,000, Autohome says, yet it’s already a bargain by US pricing standards.

You Want A Battle? Here’s A War

Zhu’s comments will no doubt have been met with some serious eye-rolling by Wei Jianjun, CEO of rival carmaker Great Wall Motor. He recently warned about the dangers of China’s auto price war, suggesting the industry had its own version of Evergrande, the Chinese property developer that went bust last year.

Wei didn’t name the company but following online speculation that he’d been referring to BYD, who recently cut the price of its Seagull EV to less the equivalent of $7,700, that firm’s general manager Li Yunfei publicly refuted the idea the country’s auto sector was in crisis.

Buckle Up Dorothy, Cause Market Share Is Going Bye-Bye

That remains to be seen, but some things are already clear. First, the Chinese are on a roll, and the rest of the world is already considering them to be an existential threat. The switch to electrification all but eliminated any advantages established automakers had during the ICE period (if you’ll excuse us the pun) and leveling up the playing field.

And with competitive products and significant price advantages on their side, brands from the People’s Republic are laughing all the way to the bank.

Also: Toyota’s New Model Y Rival Just Launched In China For Less Than A Used Corolla

Sure, there will be some form of consolidation among them, but that will be little comfort to Western companies that seem to be fighting a losing battle. Even US President Donald Trump, who initiated a head-on collision, soon realized that this course of action wouldn’t work against China anyway, so he seems to have backtracked .

This leaves Europe, which has close to no bargaining chips and is already facing financial turmoil, as the one likely to be left standing in this round of musical chairs. Its biggest player by far, the VW Group, is in all hands on deck mode as it fights in multiple fronts to ensure it survives with as less damage as possible.

What about Stellantis, you ask? Well, if you’ve been reading the news lately you must have gotten the general picture – but the details are a different story worth another, rather big, article…

Leapmotor

The Cupra Born is one of our favorite small EVs. It takes the competent but slightly ordinary VW ID.3 and adds some sparkle to the exterior design and interior quality, and both of those attributes could be about to get another boost as part of a midlife refresh.

The VW ID.3 and Cupra Born don’t only share a platform as most VW Group products do. They share so much even the doors are interchangeable, and while it looks like those doors won’t be receiving any changes a part of a 2026 facelift, the bodywork and trim either side of those doors have definitely gone under the knife.

Related: The Next Cupra Leon Will Be EV Only

Eye-scrambling camouflage hides the finer details, but new lights and bumpers will make an appearance when the updated EV is revealed later this year. Images of the facelifted car’s nose indicate a taller lower grille with a new outline and a vertical vent at each outer edge of the front bumper, just ahead of the front wheels.

And the rear shots appear to show a new design of diffuser within the rear bumper, this time with a pronounced lip at the bumper corners to make the German-built Spanish hatch look tougher and lower.

The Born doesn’t need a ton of work because it still looks modern and already has most of the corporate family face now seen on models like the Tavascan and Terramar and soon to debut on the Raval subcompact EV. And Cupra already updated the Born’s interior in 2024 with VW’s bigger 12.9-inch central touchscreen.

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The ID.3 also got the same screen in 2024, but only the Cupra features an e-boost function (optional in some countries) to increase power over the equivalent VW model. While base models in Spain come with a single 201 hp (204 PS / 150 kW) motor, UK models skip that and go straight for the 228 h (231 PS / 170 kW) version that’s a stepping stone to the 322 hp (326 PS / 240 kW) VZ hot hatch introduced last year.

We’re not expecting big changes to those power outputs, but it’s possible Cupra’s engineers could liberate a few more range miles from the 59, 77 and 79 kWh batteries. The Born with the longest legs at present is the VZ, which can go for 366 miles (590 km) before a charge is needed.

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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.

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.

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

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.

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