BMW will display its new 3 Series long wheelbase (LWB) variant at the upcoming Beijing auto show from April 23-27. The new 3-series variant – available for the Chinese market only – has its wheelbase extended by 110mm compared with the standard car.
The long-wheelbase model is available in BMW 335Li, the BMW 328Li, or the BMW 320Li guises and will be built in China’s new Shenyang production plant. the LWB version was co-developed by engineers in China’s northeastern city Shenyang and the team at the BMW Research and Innovation Center in Munich.
It will be offered with a choice of three powertrains featuring BMW’s TwinPower Turbo technology. The engine options will be an all petrol ensemble which will include the 187PS 320Li, 243PS 328Li and the 304PS 335Li.
BMW reasons that introducing a LWB variant in Beijing makes more sense since Chinese customers have been demanding one from a long time.
The LWB 3 Series is the second locally tailored product made by the joint venture following the hot-selling LWB version of the 5 Series first built in China in 2006.
The chances of BMW 3 Series LWB of making it to the Indian market seems very slim as the luxury market is not as big as the Chinese market. But if launched the car will definitely be a segment first in India.
