Different wheelbases for new BMW 5 Series and i5 EV in India

We have already reported to you that BMW is readying the eight-generation 5 Series for launch during the festive season in India this year. Now, we have new details about the wheelbase and powertrains that’ll be on offer – the new 5 Series will be available in both ICE and electric versions in India, and both will be offered with a different wheelbase.

1. BMW 5 series petrol, diesel will come as long wheelbase
2. BMW i5 EV will come as short wheelbase 
3. Petrol variant will be offered in 530Li spec

BMW i5 EV to come in standard wheelbase 

The 5 Series LWB – currently only available in China in both ICE and electric versions in left-hand drive (LHD) guise – measures 5,175mm in length, 1,900mm in width, and 1,520mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 3,105mm. This makes it 145mm longer overall than the regular 5 Series, and the wheelbase is longer by 110mm.  

As BMW does not have a right-hand drive (RHD) version of the i5 LWB globally, the model that’s coming to India will be imported in its standard wheelbase guise. Converting LHD to RHD is, of course, not a simple process, and even requires re-certification, effectively making it a new car. Being an EV, BMW is likely to sell fewer units of the i5 than the petrol or diesel variants, which means local assembly for a converted RHD model would not make sense.

New 5 Series petrol, diesel to come as LWB

For the ICE variants of the 5 Series, however, BMW will be locally assembling the LWB RHD version in India. That’s because, firstly, it will have more volumes than the i5, and secondly, BMW will be keen to price it competitively against the locally-assembled Mercedes-Benz E-Class that’s also offered in long-wheelbase guise, and for long has been undisputed segment leader. Long-wheelbase sedans have found favour with Indian luxury car buyers as most are chauffeur-driven, and appreciate the added legroom that only a stretched wheelbase can provide.

This will, therefore, be the first instance that BMW will be offering an LWB version of the 5 Series outside of China. The carmaker has applied a similar formula with the 3-Series Gran Limousine in India before, and it surely has paid off – the 3 Series was the brand’s best-selling model in India in 2023.

BMW 5 Series exterior and interior

To cater specifically to the back seat passenger, apart from the extra legroom liberated by the extended wheelbase, the 5 Series also gets reclining rear seats, four-zone climate control, leather upholstery with exclusive quilting, and even the optional 31.1-inch display from the 7 Series that folds down from the headliner to act as an entertainment screen. Such niceties are much likely to be appreciated by buyers in this segment.

There isn’t much visually differentiating the LWB and standard wheelbase models, but one way to tell both versions apart is the illuminated ‘5’ on the C-pillar on the LWB 5-Series, which on the standard version is simply finished in black.

BMW 5 Series spec, powertrain options

We can also confirm that the 5-Series will be offered in 530Li spec in India. This means it will come powered by a 255hp, 400Nm, twin-turbocharged, four-cylinder petrol engine with 48-volt mild-hybrid tech, driving only the rear wheels. Globally, there’s also an all-wheel drive version with the same engine, as well as 520i and 540i xDrive models. It, however, remains to be seen which diesel variant is brought to India as both four- and six-cylinder engine options exist abroad.

As for the all-electric i5, it’s expected to arrive in eDrive40 guise, which means it’ll have a 340hp, rear axle-mounted motor driven by an 81.2kWh battery pack. BMW claims a maximum range of 582km for this version. International markets also get an M60 xDrive variant, which gets a motor on each axle putting out a combined 601hp and a maximum range of 516km on a single charge, though there’s no word on the performance version of the i5 coming to India.

BMW 5 Series launch timeline, rivals

As mentioned above, the 5 Series LWB will be a direct rival to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class as well as the petrol-only Audi A6, and is expected to be priced in the Rs 70 lakh-80 lakh, ex-showroom. It will arrive in the festive season this year which is when the E-Class is also due its next-generation model in India. As for the electric i5, it will not have a direct rival in the market, but it’s expected to command a significant premium over its ICE sibling on account of an being an import, and prices could even nudge the Rs 1 crore mark.