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By Jonathan Crouch

BMW's eighth generation 3 Series gets six cylinders and startling performance in this M350 xDrive form. Jonathan Crouch explains.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 42

The M350 xDrive is the ultimate mainstream version of BMW's G50-era 3 Series. And the version of that model that gets the Munich maker's definitive 3.0-litre in-line straight six beneath its bonnet in a fiery state of tune. Still want that M3?

Backgroundword count: 92

If we were to tell you about BMW 3 Series with 443hp that gets to 62 mph just 4.1s, you'd automatically think we were talking about an M3. Instead, the model in question isn't a fully-fledged M car at all. Welcome to the M350 xDrive. This is the fastest mainstream version of the eighth generation G50-era 3 Series - the successor to the well-regarded G20-era M340i xDrive. That car was already the thinking person's M3 alternative. Well this M350 might arguably fill that role even more effectively. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experienceword count: 286

What's served up here is a high performance variant fast enough to make some question the need for the forthcoming new-generation M3. The M350 xDrive shoe-horns a 3.0 straight six petrol unit under this MK8 model's expanded bonnet line; as with the old M340i xDrive, it's a mild hybrid. The total output, 443hp, is more than the G20-era M3 and a big step up from that old G20 340i xDrive model's 392hp. That's due to new turbos, redesigned intake ports and combustion chambers, different cam timing and smoother exhaust routes. Plus the contribution from the mild hybrid electrical system is increased to 18hp. The result is 580Nm of torque and a 0-62mph time of just 4.1s. For reference, an i3 50 xDrive with 469hp has 645Nm of torque and manages 0-62mph in 4.7s. As for the handling segment benchmark that the 3 Series is always supposed to represent, well BMW has sought to embellish that in all variants with a stiffer chassis, a wider track (front and rear), a tweaked steering ratio and (on the M350) a new 'Drift Moment' feature that forces the car into rear-wheel drive. If you like your driving, there's nothing else in the segment that will feel quite the same. There are engineering differences here over what went before, borrowing from the 'Heart of Joy' concept in the i3 where four 'brains' control every aspect of the drive dynamics - much like a conductor leading an orchestra. It's called something different here (the 'driving stack') but the principle is the same. Meaning less wiring, quicker more direct reactions to driver input and extra technology; such as the new 'Motorway Assistant' which (where legal) allows for hands-free driving at up to 81mph.

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