The 2027 BMW M350: An M3 In Everything But Name

BMW’s new G50-generation 3 Series arrives in two parallel flavors for the first time — a fully electric i3 chasing the Tesla Model 3, and the familiar combustion lineup, now topped by a new M350 xDrive. While the i3 grabs the headlines with 463 horsepower and serious range, its gas-fed sibling has quietly been building a reputation of its own: the closest thing to an M3 without asking the M division for permission.

Under the hood sits a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six mild-hybrid making 437 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque — more than the F80 M3 had when it launched over a decade ago with 425 hp and a reputation as the benchmark sports sedan of its era. Standard xDrive all-wheel drive sends power to all four corners and drops the 0-60 mph sprint to 3.9 seconds (3.6 with rollout), with top speed electronically capped at 155 mph.

The more interesting engineering, though, lives in the software. A function BMW insists on calling “Drift Moment” — not Mode — will eventually disconnect the front axle through a multi-plate clutch, turning the M350 into a genuinely rear-drive car for showboating. It isn’t live yet; BMW says it’s arriving in 2027 via an over-the-air update, which is becoming the brand’s preferred way of selling a car before the car is technically finished.

At 4,169 pounds, the M350 doesn’t hide its weight — testers compared the driving sensation to an old E39 M5: heavy, but capable. The standard Adaptive M Suspension delivers a notably more compliant ride than any M3 BMW has built, which makes the M350 a better daily companion than a track-day rival.

Styling follows BMW’s new “sharknose” language, with an illuminated kidney grille standard on the M350 via the Iconic Glow Package, and eleven launch colors including a new Le Castellet Blue. Inside, a 17.9-inch touchscreen runs BMW’s latest Operating System X alongside a Panoramic Vision display that projects information onto the windshield. It’s capable tech, but it comes with a learning curve — climate controls included, now buried a tap or two into the screen.

The base 330 starts at $51,250, while the M350 xDrive opens at $67,250 before options. For comparison, its electric twin, the i3, makes 463 horsepower, hits 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, is estimated at roughly 468 miles of range, and starts at $62,850 — cheaper, quicker, and arguably the smarter buy, unless the exhaust note is part of the deal for you.

The M350 won’t replace a proper M car on a track day, but for a buyer chasing 90 percent of an M3’s thrill without the stiff ride — or the full M invoice — it’s a serious argument. BMW has spent years being accused of slapping the M badge on cars that didn’t earn it. With the M350, the brand finally built something convincing enough to not need the letter at all.

Source: Motor1.com (https://www.motor1.com/reviews/813775/2027-bmw-m350-first-drive-review/)