What is the news?
BMW India has launched the i5 Long Wheelbase (LWB), marking its first locally made BMW electric sedan in the country. The sedan is produced at the BMW Group Plant, Chennai.
What is the BMW i5 LWB?
The BMW i5 LWB is the electric, long-wheelbase version of BMW’s 5 Series executive sedan, tailored for India with extra rear legroom and comfort-focused tech. It is positioned as a luxury EV sedan for chauffeur-driven buyers.
BMW also unveiled the Limited First Edition, which has been sold out (99 units). The Limited First Edition adds Carbon Black Metallic paint, Titanium Bronze accents on the grille and lower trim, plus unique badging and trim treatments to set it apart from regular i5 LWB models.
What powers the i5 LWB?
The BMW i5 LWB uses a rear-mounted electric motor in an eDrive35L configuration. The motor makes 268 hp and 410 Nm of torque; the electric sedan does 0-100 km/h in 6.7 seconds and has a top speed of 195 km/h. BMW says the setup is designed to offer refined and linear acceleration rather than aggressive, punchy performance.
What is the battery capacity and range?
BMW has equipped the i5 LWB with an 81.6 kWh high-voltage battery and claims a maximum range of up to 669 km. The battery takes around 33 minutes to charge from 10-80% on a compatible 160 kW DC charger, and takes about 7-8 hours to fully charge on a 11 kW AC charger.
How does the i5 LWB look?
The BMW i5 LWB follows the latest 5 Series design language with EV-esque design elements, setting it apart from its ICE counterpart. At 5,175 mm long, 2,156 mm wide, 1,520 mm tall and with a 3,105 mm wheelbase, the i5 LWB is the biggest car in its segment by footprint, delivering a long, planted silhouette and class-leading rear space.
The BMW i5 LWB features an illuminated kidney grille, adaptive LED headlights with signature DRL, flush door handles and rides on 20-inch M alloy wheels as standard. BMW offers the i5 LWB in four shades: Mineral White, Phytonic Blue, Carbon Black, Oxide Grey.
What interior features does it include?
Visually, the i5 LWB interior features Veganza perforated upholstery in a dual-tone Copper Brown & Atlas Grey, complemented by wood trim and CraftedClarity crystal glass elements on controls.
The cabin blends a modern cockpit with lounge-like rear passenger seating. The dashboard is dominated by BMW’s Curved Display, an illuminated Interaction Bar and a Sky Lounge panoramic roof, creating a premium ambience.
What safety features are on offer?
The BMW i5 LWB comes with a comprehensive suite of passive and active safety systems:
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Eight airbags for occupant protection
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Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go
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Lane-change warning and lane-keeping
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Collision warnings
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Cross-traffic warning
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Parking Assistant Professional with remote parking functionality
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360° camera and advanced parking sensors
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Attentiveness assist
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Side-impact protection
What is the price, and who are the rivals?
BMW has launched the i5 LWB in India at an introductory ₹79.6 lakh (ex-showroom) and is available in two variants: BMW i5 eDrive35L M Sport and BMW i5 eDrive35L M Sport First Edition (Limited to 99 units). Both variants are priced identically, with the first edition being sold out. In the Indian market, the BMW i5 LWB primarily competes with Mercedes-Benz EQE.
