BMW India has made two significant announcements for its locally produced luxury car portfolio. New BMW X1 Long Wheelbase has been launched at an introductory price of Rs 49.90 lakh, while bookings have opened for the upcoming BMW i5 Long Wheelbase electric sedan.
Both models place a strong emphasis on rear-seat space, an important consideration for India’s chauffeur-driven luxury car market. While X1 LWB gets a petrol engine and an extensively upgraded equipment list, i5 LWB will become BMW India’s first locally assembled electric sedan.
New BMW X1 LWB Launched At Rs 49.90 Lakh
New BMW X1 Long Wheelbase is locally produced at BMW Group Plant Chennai and is available with a 1.5-litre turbo petrol 3-cyl engine. It produces 156 hp and 230 Nm and is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Claimed fuel efficiency stands at 15.5 km/l.
At 4,616 mm long, 2,104 mm wide and 1,641 mm tall, BMW claims X1 LWB is the longest car in its segment. Wheelbase measures 2,800 mm, an increase of 108 mm. The extra length has primarily been used to improve rear passenger space.
BMW claims an additional 150 mm of rear legroom and 109 mm of knee room. Rear seats get longer cushioning and can recline up to 28.5 degrees. Boot capacity is 540 litres, expandable to 1,700 litres with the rear seats folded.
New Features And Technology
Exterior changes include Adaptive LED headlights, 18-inch M alloy wheels, aluminium-finished roof rails and redesigned LED lighting. Buyers can choose from Night Dusk Blue, Skyscraper Grey, Carbon Black and Mineral White colours.
Inside, X1 LWB gets BMW’s Widescreen Curved Display running Operating System 9. Other highlights include electrically adjustable front sport seats, Harman Kardon 12-speaker audio, wireless charging and a large 9 sq-ft panoramic sunroof.
BMW Digital Key Plus allows a compatible smartphone or smartwatch to function as the vehicle key. Comfort Access 2.0 can automatically unlock the SUV without requiring the device to be tapped against the door handle. Digital keys can be shared with up to 18 users.
Safety equipment includes eight airbags, 360-degree camera, blind spot assistance, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking and cruise control with braking function. Reversing Assistant can remember the last 50 metres travelled and automatically retrace the route in reverse.
BMW i5 Long Wheelbase Bookings Open
Alongside X1 LWB launch, BMW India has opened bookings for i5 Long Wheelbase. It will also be assembled at the company’s Chennai plant, becoming BMW’s second locally produced EV in India and its first locally assembled electric sedan.
i5 LWB takes the long-wheelbase formula considerably further. It measures 5,175 mm in length, 2,156 mm in width and 1,520 mm in height, with a substantial 3,105 mm wheelbase. BMW claims it is the largest and longest sedan in its segment.
Power comes from an electric motor producing 268 hp, enabling 0-100 km/h acceleration in 6.7 seconds. An 81.6 kWh battery provides a claimed range of up to 669 km on the MIDC cycle. BMW has also equipped i5 LWB with adaptive rear-axle air suspension and increased ground clearance, keeping Indian road conditions in mind.
BMW i5 LWB First Edition Limited To 99 Units
BMW will launch i5 LWB with a special First Edition limited to just 99 customers. It gets a Carbon Black Metallic exterior combined with Titanium Bronze accents. Pricing for BMW i5 LWB has not been announced yet. Bookings are now open through authorised BMW dealerships across India.
Inside, the First Edition adds rear-seat entertainment with a tablet and holder, BMW Individual Silver Bronze accents, Fineline open-pored fine-wood trim and ‘FIRST EDITION’ laser engraving on the dashboard.
BMW Closing The Gap With Mercedes-Benz India
The launch of X1 Long Wheelbase and upcoming i5 Long Wheelbase also come at an important time for BMW India. The German luxury carmaker has been steadily expanding its locally produced portfolio while increasing its focus on models tailored specifically for Indian luxury car buyers.
BMW is also closing the gap with Mercedes-Benz in India’s luxury car sales race. Mercedes-Benz has traditionally maintained a sizeable lead and remains the country’s largest luxury car manufacturer by volumes. However, has made the battle at the top considerably closer.
With X1 LWB priced at Rs 49.90 lakh and i5 LWB joining the locally manufactured EV portfolio, BMW is broadening its addressable customer base at a time when the fight for leadership in India’s luxury car market is getting increasingly interesting. Whether this product offensive can eventually help BMW overtake Mercedes-Benz India remains to be seen, but the gap between the two brands is now worth watching closely.