China loves its long-wheelbase luxury cars, and carmakers are more than happy to oblige. BMW already sells stretched versions of several of its saloons and SUVs there, and now the all-new fifth-generation X5 has joined the list. The China-specific X5 and iX5 LWB twins gain an extra 130 mm between the axles compared to their global counterparts, resulting in a massive 3165mm wheelbase — the longest ever fitted to a BMW SUV, even surpassing the flagship X7. As a result, the rear doors are also longer, improving ingress and egress, while the additional length translates into significantly more rear seat legroom.
The cabin has been designed with chauffeur-driven buyers in mind, with the rear seats offering greater comfort and space than before. One of the biggest highlights is the inclusion of BMW’s 31.3-inch theatre screen, borrowed from the 7 Series. The roof-mounted 8K display supports video streaming, gaming and video conferencing. Rear passengers also benefit from upgraded seating with enhanced recline, heating, ventilation and massage function. Visually, these long wheelbase SUVs also get a few market-specific styling tweaks. And that includes a redesigned front bumper, slightly different light bars flanking the illuminated kidney grilles and a more prominent Hofmeister kink on the c-pillar. There’s also an additional camera mounted on the rear spoiler and that’s mainly to support the China-specific ADAS features.
The ICE-powered X5 long wheelbase will be offered with petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid iterations, while the all-electric iX5 long wheelbase is expected to be available with the same battery options as its European counterpart. Powertrain specs of any of the versions have not been given out yet. For now, both models are destined exclusively for the Chinese market, with sales set to commence in early 2027. However, BMW says that if demand exists, both these SUVs will also be offered in other markets, including India.
