2027 BMW M350 xDrive: Specs, Price & US Release – The 2027 BMW M350 is the M Performance flagship of the all-new G50 3 Series — the car that replaces the M340i for U.S. buyers while the next full M3 waits until 2028. It keeps a turbocharged inline-six, adds more power, Neue Klasse styling, and a software-unlocked rear-drive drift mode. For American shoppers who want a sports sedan that is not quite an M3, this is the model to watch.
What the 2027 BMW M350 Is?
BMW dropped the “i” suffix from combustion M Performance models so “i” can stay reserved for EVs. The M340i therefore becomes the M350. In the United States it is listed as the M350 xDrive and is expected to be the only six-cylinder gasoline 3 Series at launch. Lesser G50 sedans use four-cylinder engines.
The car sits on an evolved CLAR II platform with a longer wheelbase and wider tracks than the outgoing G20. Production of the M350 is scheduled to start at Dingolfing in late 2026, with U.S. deliveries expected in early 2027. The next-generation M3 (G84) is not due until mid-2028, so the M350 will be the hottest new 3 Series you can buy for about two model years.
Neue Klasse Design and Quad Exhausts
The G50 3 Series shares visual language with the electric i3: slimmer kidney grille, horizontal light signature, flush door handles, and a cleaner body side. The combustion car keeps longer-hood, rear-drive proportions. The M350 adds a more aggressive front intake, red-painted M Sport brakes, 20-inch wheels, and — for the first time on an M Performance 3 Series — quad exhaust tips.
Staggered summer tires (245/35R-20 front, 275/30R-20 rear) are available. Adaptive M suspension is standard on the M350; there is no base damper option. The look is closer to a junior M car than the last M340i, which is the point.
Engine, Power, and Acceleration
Under the hood is a revised 3.0-liter B58 turbo inline-six with 48-volt mild-hybrid assist. BMW’s latest figures: 437 hp (U.S. SAE) / 443 PS (Europe) and 428 lb-ft of torque. That is roughly 50 hp more than the outgoing North American M340i.
Drive goes through an eight-speed ZF automatic and xDrive all-wheel drive. Claimed 0–62 mph is 4.1 seconds; U.S. 0–60 mph should land around 4.0 seconds once official numbers land. Top speed remains electronically limited to 155 mph. Launch control is present and, according to early testers, easy to use via the new iDrive system.
The mild-hybrid system fills torque holes before the turbo fully spools. There is no manual transmission.
Drift Moment: Rear-Drive Mode by Software
The headline feature is Drift Moment. Activate it (with DSC off) and the front axle clutch opens so 100% of torque goes to the rear wheels. That is the same idea previously reserved for full M cars such as the M3.
It will not be available at launch. BMW says the feature arrives during calendar 2027 as a free over-the-air Remote Software Upgrade on cars already delivered. Early buyers get a 437-hp AWD sedan first and the drift mode later.
Chassis, Ride, and How It Drives
Standard kit on the M350 includes Adaptive M suspension, variable sport steering, and an electronically controlled M Sport rear differential. Prototype drives at Miramas and on public roads in southern France describe a car that is calmer than an M3 in Comfort yet eager when you press the M button. Reviewers say it has more everyday bandwidth than the last M340i and more rear-drive playfulness than its badge suggests.
The new body is stiffer, the tracks are wider, and the software (including a 6D motion sensor cluster borrowed from Neue Klasse EVs) is more sophisticated. Expect a firmer but still livable daily ride on 20-inch wheels.
Interior and Tech for U.S. Buyers
Expect the latest BMW cabin: large curved display, iDrive X, optional 3D head-up display, and the usual suite of driver aids. Materials and screen layout will track the i3 and other Neue Klasse cars more than the outgoing 3 Series. Exact U.S. option packages have not been published.
2027 BMW M350 Price and U.S. Release Date
Official U.S. MSRP has not been announced. The current M340i xDrive starts in the mid-$60,000s. A modest increase is likely given more power, standard adaptive M suspension, and 20-inch wheels — still well below the next M3. MotorTrend and others estimate the broader 2027 3 Series range starting near $50,000, with the M350 at the top of that ladder.
U.S. timeline: production late 2026, first customer cars early 2027. BMW USA already listed the M350 xDrive in a 2027 model-year shop leak, confirming it is intended for this market. Only the xDrive version has been shown for North America so far.
M350 vs. M340i vs. the Coming M3
| 2026 M340i xDrive (approx.) | 2027 M350 xDrive | Next M3 (G84, 2028) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | ~382–386 hp | 437 hp | Higher (S58 or successor) |
| Badge | M Performance | M Performance | Full M |
| Drift mode | No | Yes (OTA in 2027) | Yes |
| Role | Hot 3 Series | Hot 3 Series + M3 wait | Flagship |
The M350 is the car you buy if you want six-cylinder performance, AWD, and most of the drama without waiting two years or paying M3 money. It is not a replacement for the M3; it is the best 3 Series you can get until that car arrives.
Should U.S. Buyers Order One?
Yes if you want a new 3 Series that still sounds like a BMW six, handles better than the last M340i, and will gain a rear-drive mode by software. Wait if Drift Moment is a day-one must-have, or if you prefer to see final EPA ratings, curb weight, and BMW of North America’s official horsepower figure.
Pricing, colors, and option packs will firm up after the official reveal (expected around late September 2026). Until then, the M350 is the most interesting gasoline 3 Series BMW has shown in years — and for U.S. drivers, it is the one that matters until the next M3 shows up.