India is one of those rare markets where BMW sells the same car with different wheelbases. Many of us would like that, as some buyers prefer a roomier back seat while others don’t want to deal with the added size. While you might appreciate the more spacious cabin, others may not like how the LWB treatment changes the car’s proportions and adds weight. Having a choice would be nice, but sadly, India will likely remain the exception rather than the rule.

BMW assembles the i5 eDrive35L at the Chennai factory alongside the iX1. By the way, the compact crossover is its first EV produced in the world’s most populous country. While BMW India builds the non-M version locally, the hotter i5 M60 with a standard wheelbase is fully imported. Although pricing has not been disclosed, the Indian-made electric 5 Series will significantly undercut the M Performance model, which starts at ₹1,19,50,000 (nearly $125,000 at current exchange rates). That’s not just because it’s a lesser version but also because of lower taxes.

To celebrate the i5’s “Made in India” label, BMW is rolling out a First Edition. Limited to just 99 units, all of them come in Carbon Black Metallic with Titanium Bronze accents. Inside, the stretched electric sedan gets an Individual Silver Bronze inlay, open-pore fine-wood trim, and a tablet with a holder for rear passengers. Up front, the driver and front passenger can admire the laser-engraved First Edition designation on the dashboard.

Largest Luxury Sedan In Its Class

The i5 Long Wheelbase is touted as the biggest sedan in its segment. It measures a stately 5,175 mm (203.7 inches) long, 2,156 mm (84.9 inches) wide, and 1,520 mm (59.8 inches) high. Its 3,105-mm (122.2-inch) wheelbase creates a cavernous cabin that might make some passengers think they’re sitting inside a 7 Series.

Power comes from a single electric motor producing 268 hp, with drive sent to the rear axle. The i5 Long Wheelbase accelerates to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 6.7 seconds. Fully charged, the 81.6-kWh battery provides 416 miles (669 km) of range on the Modified Indian Driving Cycle (MIDC). The locally made version also gets standard adaptive rear-axle suspension and increased ground clearance to better tackle India’s notoriously bad roads, though big 20-inch wheels come standard…

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Not ready to go electric just yet? BMW has you covered. The automaker continues to sell the conventionally powered 5 Series Long Wheelbase with a gas engine in 530Li M Sport guise. Also produced in India, the ICE-powered version will remain the most attainable of the bunch, starting at ₹76,60,000 (about $80,000).

2027 will be a hugely important year for the 5 Series. Why? BMW will align its luxury sedan with the Neue Klasse design and technology. Expect a moderate facelift and a radically different dashboard after switching to the iDrive X. Aside from the sedan, the Touring will also receive the NK makeover, and so will the M5 versions of both body styles. These updates are likely to expand to the Long Wheelbase 5 Series and i5 in 2028.

First published by https://www.bmwblog.com