BMW Reveals Long-Wheelbase 5 Series for Chinese Market

MUNICH, Germany — In a signal of how seriously BMW is taking the Chinese car market these days, the German carmaker today revealed a new long-wheelbase version of the 5 Series to be produced and sold exclusively in China.

Distinguished from the standard model by a wheelbase that has been lengthened by 5.5 inches to 119.3 inches, the new China-market 5 Series stretches to 196.1 inches overall — or just 2.4 inches shy of the existing short-wheelbase 7 Series. The added length is concentrated wholly within the rear door, easing entry to the rear and extending rear-seat legroom, according to BMW. Trunk space remains unchanged at 18.4 cubic feet.

The move by BMW to introduce a long-wheelbase version of the 5 Series mirrors that of Volkswagen, which has offered a stretched version of the fifth-generation Passat in China for the past five years with great success. The decision was driven by the typical Chinese car owner's practice of employing a driver. "We wanted to create added space for rear-seat passengers," says BMW.

Three versions of the new long-wheelbase 5 Series will be offered for sale in China, each running its own version of BMW's classic inline six-cylinder engine. They include a base 177-horsepower 2.5-liter 523Li, 218-hp 2.5-liter 525Li, and the top-of-the-line 258-hp 3.0-liter 530Li.

Inside Line sources also say there is a chance selected V8 models could be added to the lineup in the future, as the company first wants to gauge reaction to the new car, then make a decision on how to proceed in the future.

Production of the long-wheelbase 5 Series will take place at BMW partner Brilliance China's plant at Shenyang in the province of Liaoning in Northeast China. That's the same site that currently turns out the BMW 3 Series for the China market. BMW has not announced any volume targets or whether there are plans to export the new car to other Asian countries.

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