Happy Friday! Welcome to this week’s edition of the Official DoubleClutch.ca News Rundown, where we recap the top automotive headlines from the week that was in one convenient package. Let’s go.
BMW reveals gas-powered Neue Klasse 3 Series
The next chapter of BMW's Neue Klasse 3 Series is here. Say hello to the 2027 BMW 330 xDrive, and the high-performance 2027 BMW M350 xDrive sedans.
These two new variants introduce internal-combustion powertrains to the latest, Neue Klasse-generation BMW 3 Series. The 330 xDrive kicks off the lineup with a familiar 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder mild hybrid powertrain. It puts out 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, paired to a familiar eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel-drive is standard in Canada, hence the 'xDrive' badge; the U.S. gets a rear-wheel-drive 330 to start. Oh, and the 'i' has been dropped from the gas cars, for obvious reasons.
More interesting is the 2027 BMW M350 xDrive. This one packs the beloved 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline-six, also a mild hybrid. It effectively replaces the equally beloved M340i xDrive with a hefty power bump, now rated at 437 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque. BMW now positions the M350 as the "entry point to the M world," clocking a zero-to-100 km/h run in 3.9 seconds — faster than the BMW M3 CS Handschalter — and giving it a drift mode.
The 2027 330 and M350 wear BMW's Neue Klasse styling no differently than the i3, though a closer look reveals subtle differences like a tweaked tail light design, a reshaped rear diffusor featuring exhaust tips, and different wheel options.
Inside, the gas-fed 2027 3 Series features the same key elements as its electric counterpart; the love-it-or-hate-it steering wheel remains, as does the angular 17.9-inch touchscreen featuring BMW's latest and knob-less iDrive infotainment. BMW's nifty Panoramic View display still stretches across the windshield, and the optional, expansive glass roof brightens up the cabin, even though it doesn't open.
Pricing for the 2027 BMW 3 Series lineup starts at $61,500 for the base 330 xDrive. The i3 is the next step up at $74,900, while the M350 xDrive tops the lineup at $78,500. Production is already underway, and BMW Canada says we'll see the Neue Klasse 3 Series in dealers early 2027.
Honda dishes details on updated 2027 Civic Type R
Honda is marking 10 years of the Civic Type R in the U.S. and Canada — and 30 years globally — by sharpening up the 2027 Civic Type R.
The 2027 Civic Type R's cosmetic tweaks are subtle, at least from the outside. There's a new colour called Meteoroid Grey on deck to go along with a subtly reworked front fascia; the front lip is deeper and the grille larger. Popping the hood reveals a redesigned engine cover; Honda says it's a callback to "early-generation Type R models sold in Japan." Very cool.
Inside, the updates are a bit more noticeable. The seats are now heated, the suede-like upholstery is perforated, and the instrument panel and doors are now trimmed in Ultrasuede to complement the seats. A new, darkened mesh trim piece concealing the air vents now spans the dashboard, and touch points like the door handles, climate control knobs, and shift knob are darkened to match.
Honda put more work into the stuff you can't see. For starters, the +R drive mode is now less bouncy and harsh than before, resulting in both a better ride and more stable cornering. Engineers also added a yoke spring the brake pedal for better response and feel, not to mention less play in the pedal itself. For those who enjoy auto rev-matching, Honda says it now reacts quicker and gives you smoother downshifts. If you're into that.
Tech-wise, the 2027 Civic Type R's infotainment now features Google and Alexa integration. There's also now not one, but two USB-C ports above the wireless charger, and Honda has updated its Honda Sensing suite of active safety and driver assists with post-collision braking.
The updated 2027 Honda Civic Type R will go on sale this fall, with an MSRP of $54,850 — if you can even find a dealer to honour that.
Hyundai dishes specs, more details on next-gen Tucson
Following the initial reveal of the next-gen Tucson, Hyundai dished more details and specs this week. It's longer, wider, and taller than the outgoing model, featuring a roomier interior and a power bump depending on what's under the hood.
Hyundai says it will offer both gas and hybrid powertrains in North America. The outgoing 2.5-litre normally aspirated inline four-cylinder engine will be replaced by a 1.6-litre turbo-four, rated at 187 horsepower. Hyundai will keep offering the 1.6 turbo as a hybrid as well, now putting out 233 horsepower. Fuel economy has yet to be finalized, but Hyundai says they're targeting 42 mpg. There will be a plug-in hybrid, but Hyundai hasn't yet confirmed if it's coming to Canada.
What Hyundai has confirmed is a re-up on the Tucson XRT. Hyundai is keen to point out its more muscular look, characterized by chunky tires and body cladding, sharp creases and horizontal lines, and unique colour and upholstery options inside and out. The chunkier look plays well with the 2027 Tucson's increased dimensions; Hyundai says the new one is 60 millimetres longer, 40 mm wider, and 20 mm taller than the outgoing Tucson.
This translates to a roomier interior in pretty much every dimension. Hyundai is keen to point out the 2027 Tucson has more front-seat headroom and shoulder room, and rear-seat legroom than the outgoing model. That ties in with a totally redone layout with larger screens than before, but still with some care going towards physical controls.
The 2027 Tucson debuts Hyundai's next-gen, AI-infused infotainment called Pleos Connect. It works on either a 12.9-inch or 17-inch touchscreen depending on the trim, augmented by a slimmer 9.9-inch screen ahead of the driver, closer to the edge of the windshield.
Hyundai says the 2027 Tucson will go on sale in Korea this year, followed by North America early next year. Expect even more details to follow.
And the rest
Well, about that — we had a busy week, so news coverage was a little thin this week. But hey, here's a sneak peek of what I drove instead of covering the new Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk, showing you Ford's limited-run two-tone paint options for the 2027 F-150, or prattling on about the 2027 Subaru WRX GD25 Edition.
