Listen to the New 2027 BMW M350 xDrive 6-Cylinder

The next-generation BMW M350 xDrive is shaping up to be an important car for enthusiasts who are not ready to give up the sound and character of a combustion engine. While BMW moves deeper into electric vehicles, this new performance-focused 3 Series keeps a turbocharged 6-cylinder engine under the hood, and its engine and exhaust note could become one of its biggest attractions.

At the center of the M350 xDrive is a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine working with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. Combined output is rated at 443 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque. That gives the new model 51 more horsepower and 30 additional pound-feet compared with the car it replaces.

For drivers who care about sound, the inline 6-cylinder layout is especially interesting. BMW’s turbocharged straight 6 engines have traditionally delivered a smooth but distinctive tone that becomes more aggressive as engine speed rises. The M350 xDrive continues with this basic formula, but the additional power and updated performance tuning should give the new car its own personality.

The exhaust system will play an important role in that experience. A modern performance car has to balance increasingly strict noise and emissions requirements with the expectations of drivers who still want to hear the engine. During acceleration, the M350 should deliver a deeper exhaust note at lower engine speeds before developing a sharper and more urgent sound as the 6-cylinder engine moves toward the upper end of its rev range.

There is also something about the sound of an inline 6-cylinder engine that works particularly well in a sports sedan. The firing characteristics create a naturally smooth delivery, while hard acceleration can produce the mechanical growl and exhaust tone enthusiasts associate with BMW’s performance models. The 48-volt mild-hybrid system supports the combustion engine rather than replacing its personality, so the gasoline engine remains at the center of the driving experience.

Power is sent through an 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission and BMW xDrive all-wheel drive. BMW currently estimates that the M350 xDrive will accelerate from 0 to 62 miles per hour in 4.1 seconds and continue to an electronically limited top speed of 155 miles per hour.

But outright speed is only part of the story. BMW is also developing a feature called Drift Moment. Once activated through the central display, the system can send the engine’s power entirely to the rear wheels. With the Dynamic Stability Control system switched off and the M-specific multi-disc clutch management working in the background, the M350 effectively changes from an all-wheel-drive sports sedan into a rear-wheel-drive machine.

That could also make the engine and exhaust experience more entertaining. Hearing the turbocharged 6-cylinder engine build through the rev range while the rear wheels handle the power should give the M350 a very different character from BMW’s electric performance models.

There is one limitation. Drift Moment is not expected to be available immediately when the car arrives. BMW plans to introduce the feature during 2027, with compatible cars already on the road expected to receive it through a Remote Software Upgrade.

BMW is currently putting the new 3 Series through final driving development at its Miramas testing facility in southern France, following winter testing in Arjeplog and development work at the Nürburgring.

The M350 xDrive represents an interesting direction for the 3 Series. It combines modern electrification with a traditional turbocharged 6-cylinder engine rather than abandoning combustion altogether. With 443 horsepower, all-wheel drive, rear-wheel-drive capability and the sound of a powerful inline 6 under acceleration, the M350 could become one of the most appealing versions of BMW’s next-generation sports sedan.