The luxury car market in India got another interesting update today. Alongside the launch of the X1 Long Wheelbase, BMW India has also unveiled the new i5 Long Wheelbase and opened bookings for it. The electric sedan will be locally assembled at BMW Group Plant Chennai. It also marks BMW India’s first locally produced electric sedan.
The i5 LWB is larger than the regular i5 and has been designed with extra space for passengers sitting at the back. Its dimensions are:
The extended wheelbase is one of the main changes on the i5 LWB. At 3,105mm, the wheelbase is 110mm longer than the standard i5. The overall length has also increased to 5,175mm.
BMW has given the sedan features made for Indian road conditions too.
The suspension setup should also help improve ride comfort on uneven roads and speed breakers.
The i5 LWB uses an electric motor producing 268hp. BMW says the sedan can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds.
The 81.6kWh battery offers a claimed MIDC range of up to 669km on one charge. This gives the large sedan a strong touring range without needing frequent charging stops.
BMW will introduce the i5 LWB with a special First Edition. Only 99 customers will get this version.
It comes with Carbon Black Metallic paint and Titanium Bronze exterior details. The cabin gets BMW Individual Silver Bronze accents, open pore Fineline wood trim and First Edition laser engraving on the dashboard.
Rear passengers also get a dedicated entertainment package with a tablet and holder.
The i5 LWB will be BMW India’s second locally assembled electric model after the iX1. Bookings are now open through authorised BMW dealerships across India.
BMW has not officially announced the final launch price yet. The locally assembled model is expected to cost less than the fully imported i5 M60 xDrive.
For buyers looking for a large electric sedan with plenty of rear space, the i5 LWB adds a new option to BMW India’s range.