--- title: "Straight-Six-Powered BMW M350 Promises 440 HP and a Drift Mode: TDS" date: "2026-09-08" modified: "2026-09-08" authors: - name: "Adam Ismail" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail.md" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/straight-six-powered-bmw-m350-promises-440-hp-and-a-drift-mode-tds" categories: - "News" - "The Downshift" tags: - "3 Series" - "BMW" - "luxury" - "sedan" - "sports car" --- # Straight-Six-Powered BMW M350 Promises 440 HP and a Drift Mode: TDS ![BMW M350 prototype drifting]() *\BMW\* Good morning and welcome to *[The Downshift]()*, or TDS for short, *The Drive*‘s daily news roundup that gathers the biggest automotive headlines from around the world. *The Downshift* summarizes stories into a few sentences and peppers in links for those seeking more detail. We hope you had a nice, hopefully long weekend—here’s your bulletin for Tuesday, September 8, 2026. 3️⃣ BMW has let some powertrain figures slip for the new range-topping, gas-powered M350 xDrive—yup, the "i" is officially gone—and it sounds like a hoot: 443 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque from the latest edition of its B58 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged inline-six. Oh, and there will be a drift mode, called 'Drift Moment," even though technically this isn't a full-fat M car. *\[[BMW]()\]* 🔧 Stellantis has expanded an earlier recall pertaining to rear coil springs on the Jeep Grand Cherokee to more vehicles—many more, now totaling just under 330,000 examples spanning model years 2021 to 2023, across regular, L, and 4x3 models. It's important to stipulate that Stellantis does not believe every single one of the vehicles in the recall group bears the fault (the estimation is in fact just one-tenth of one percent), but suspension failure is a rather serious problem, and Stellantis has previously tried to nip this in the bud twice over the last few years. *\[[Mopar Insiders]()\]* 2️⃣ The Audi A2 is back (not for Americans, as it was never here in the first place) in the form of a 400-mile supermini EV starting at about $45,000, and with a design harkening back to its innovative predecessor from a quarter-century ago. This is a foreign-market EV I reckon we'll be sad to miss out on. *\[[Automotive News]()\]* 🏍️ Volkswagen is considering selling off Ducati, given its deep troubles at the present. Audi acquired the motorcycle maker back in 2012, and it's estimated that the brand could be worth up to $1.5 billion. *\[[Automotive News]()\]* 🔥 Here's a positive VW development, though: The all-electric ID Polo is sold out in Europe and the current wait list to get one is 10 months long. Good news for a brand that could so desperately use it. Again, like all of the cool stuff the VW Group makes, we don't get that car on this side of the pond. *\[[Automotive News]()\]* ⭐ Polestar has issued a teaser for a concept car called the Formula 2030, previewing design trends that the brand will bring to the upcoming Polestar 2 and 7. All we've been treated to is a shot of the face, which is certainly very low and wide. *\[[Polestar]()\]* 🏭 Jaguar Land Rover, which employs about 43,000 people globally, plans to cut 10% of its workforce over the next two years. It's not currently clear whether those jobs will come from its staff in the U.K. or elsewhere. *\[[Reuters]()\]* *Got a tip or feedback for TDS? Reach out to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()