BMW will bring the next-generation X5 SUV to India in long wheelbase (LWB) form, our sources have indicated. The next-gen X5 is set to debut in Europe soon in all-electric iX5 guise and will feature the Neue Klasse design overhaul seen on the iX3 and i3 EVs.
- BMW LWB models sold in India are garnering healthy demand
- Next-gen X5 is being adapted for LWB and will make it here in this form
- i5 LWB and iX3 LWB also headed to India
Next-gen X5 to join growing list of BMW LWB models in India
LWB BMWs resonated well with Indian customers
BMW has seen great success with the three LWB models it currently retails in India: the 3 Series LWB, 5 Series LWB and iX1 LWB. Originally designed for the Chinese market, these resonated with Indian luxury car buyers (many of whom are chauffeur-driven) thanks to the extra space they offer in the second row.
The next-gen BMW X5 will also get a China-spec LWB version, and this is the one that will be offered in India. However, given that the new X5 is yet to be revealed globally and the extra time required for LWB adaptation, don’t expect the BMW SUV to make its way to India before the latter half of 2027.
BMW India has other LWB models on the way as well. These include the i5 LWB, set to launch this year, and the iX3 LWB, which will go on sale here in 2027.
What to expect from the next-gen BMW X5
One of the first ICE-powered BMWs to adopt Neue Klasse design language
A few months ago, images of the next-gen X5 leaked online, confirming a radical Neue Klasse redesign. Up front, it gets a pair of sharp blacked-out sections housing the headlamps and vertically arranged illuminated kidney grilles in the centre. At the back, it gets a sporty sloping roofline and wide wraparound LED tail-lamps.
Inside, the next-gen X5 is anticipated to feature an all-new layout with the large rhomboidal touchscreen seen in newer BMWs, along with the pillar-to-pillar Panoramic Vision display and quad-spoke steering wheel.
Expect petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains to be available with the new X5. As noted previously, there will also be an all-electric iX5 on offer in global markets, and it will come with the largest battery pack of any BMW EV to date.
With inputs from Hormazd Sorabjee