BMW i5 Long Wheelbase Arrives in India, Production Begins

Imagine sliding into the back seat of a 5 Series that suddenly feels more like a compact limousine. That is precisely the point of BMW's new i5 Long Wheelbase, which has quietly started taking orders in India.

Built at BMW's Chennai plant, the i5 LWB is the brand's second electric model assembled locally and the first long-wheelbase electric sedan made in India. It brings extra rear legroom and a different powertrain strategy compared with the sportier M60 version sold on the official Indian site.

What the long wheelbase actually offers

The stretched i5 measures 5,175 mm from bumper to bumper, with a wheelbase of 3,105 mm. That's a noticeable step up from the standard i5's 5,060 mm length and 2,995 mm wheelbase, narrowing the gap toward BMW's 7 Series family while keeping the car compact enough for city life.

Power and range in India take a different tone than the high-performance M60. The LWB ships with a single electric motor rated at 268 PS (197 kW) and an 81.6 kWh high-voltage battery. BMW claims up to 669 km on the MIDC cycle. The adaptive rear-axle air suspension is one of the features that underline this model's focus on comfort rather than outright pace.

For comparison, the i5 M60 listed on BMW India's site uses dual motors producing 601 PS (442 kW) and 745 Nm of torque, reaches 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 230 km/h. That hot-rod formula remains available, but the LWB is aimed at buyers who want space and calm on long journeys.

BMW India has begun accepting bookings but has not published local pricing. For context, the regular i5 in India previously started at about €116,100 based on the last announced figures. Expect the long wheelbase to be positioned differently, not simply as a pricier version of the sport model.

Limited run, tailored touches

To mark the arrival, BMW India will offer a First Edition capped at just 99 units. It packs rear seat entertainment, a BMW Individual Silver Bronze interior with Fineline open-pore wood, Titanium Bronze accents and a dashboard panel engraved with a First Edition serial. Exterior paint will be Carbon Black Metallic.

One important detail: the i5 LWB is made for markets like China and India and will not be offered in Western Europe or North America. If you live in the United States, the regular i5 range remains available with the eDrive40 starting at about €62,400, the xDrive40 at roughly €65,200 and the M60 from around €78,200. For buyers choosing combustion or plug-in options, the regular 5 Series line begins near €56,300 and runs up to around €70,200, while the M5 starts at about €114,700 and serves up 717 hp and a 0 to 100 km/h sprint in 3.4 seconds.

This isn't a radical reinterpretation of the 5 Series. Think of it as a subtle shift in priorities: less about track aggression and headline lap times, and more about rear-seat space, composure and a presence that edges the model closer to BMW's larger sedans. For buyers in India who favor comfort and local assembly, it might be exactly the stretch the i5 needed.