BMW has revealed the long-wheelbase version of the new 3 Series sedan at this year’s Shanghai motor show. It will, however, be offered exclusively in the Chinese market.
The extended version of the recently launched seventh-generation 3 Series has been reworked to offer extra space in the rear, along with a number of new features. It fits a long trend of car firms making longer versions of premium models for China.
The stretched 3 Series’ wheelbase of 2,851mm is 41mm longer than the regular car, and its total length is extended to 4,719mm. It is 1,827mm wide and 1,459mm high, with increased track widths of 1,583mm at the front and 1,599mm at the rear.
Powered by a four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, the 3 Series long-wheelbase features comfort seats in the front and rear, and a panoramic glass roof, among a number of features to meet the demands of Chinese customers.
The machine will be produced by joint venture firm BMW Brilliance Automotive, at its Tiexi plant in Shenyang in Liaoning Province, where Chinese market versions of the regular 3 Series will also be produced.
In China, the 3 Series – in both standard and long-wheelbase forms – will also be offered with BMW’s new Intelligent Personal Assistant System, which offers a range of digital services. It also responds to voice controls with the prompt “hey BMW”.
Meanwhile in India, BMW has been on a bit of a launch spree. The German brand has already launched the entry level diesel 6 Series Gran Turismo (620GT), the higher-spec 5 Series 530i M Sport, the all-new Z4 and the X4 SUV-coupe. Moving forward, BMW India will launch the 7 Series facelift, the all-new X7, the next-gen 3 Series, the 8 Series and an update for the X1. The next-gen BMW X5 will launch in India on May 16, 2019.
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