- BMW will unveil a stretch 5 Series at the Beijing auto show.
- The 5 Series LWB will compete with the Volvo S80L and Audi A6L.
- LWB 5 Series will be assembled at the BMW-Brilliance plant in Shenyang.
MUNICH — BMW is the latest European luxury brand to develop a stretched sedan exclusively for the China market, with its new long-wheelbase 5 Series. The range-topping BMW 535Li and its siblings will make their public debut later this month at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show.
Also reportedly slated to appear at the Beijing show is a new Mercedes-Benz E300L, a stretched version of the recently overhauled E-Class sedan, also aimed exclusively at well-heeled Chinese customers.
The new German entries will compete with such existing long-wheelbase models as the Volvo S80L and the Audi A6L. General Motors also plays in the segment with the China-only Cadillac SLS.
The LWB 5 Series will be assembled at the BMW-Brilliance plant in Shenyang in northern China.
The wheelbase has been stretched by 5.5 inches, with most of the additional room in the rear passenger compartment—a nod to owners who prefer to be chauffeur driven. Amenities include a new "high comfort" rear bench seat, plus such options as rear sun blinds, a folding table in the back of the front passenger's seat, rear-seat entertainment and four-zone automatic climate control.
Buyers can choose from three inline six-cylinder engines, including a 302-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter unit. All engines come standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Among the advanced technologies offered on the LWB 5 Series are night vision, parking assistant, lane departure warning and head-up display.
Inside Line says: What took BMW so long? — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
vache1 says:
10:20 AM, 06/09/2010
I figured it out: BMW-Brilliance has a plant in China that builds 3 & 5-Series only. The cost of a "domestic" 5-Series LWB is about 412,000 RMB, while the imported 7-Series is about 918,000 RMB due to import tarriffs. It's like buying a 7-seires at half-price, which no doubt appeals to the nouveau riche. Nice move, BMW.
Onto more heavy topics: the Chinese love Buicks. Try explaining THAT.
jgcl2005 says:
09:23 PM, 04/25/2010
Why...?
twmark says:
10:31 AM, 04/25/2010
yeah, why not just buy a 7 series?
desmolicious says:
02:40 PM, 04/05/2010
In other news, BMW is introducing a short wheel base version of the 7 series to compete in markets where the 5 series is not sold...
half_ton says:
11:50 AM, 04/05/2010
Keep in mind that this vehicle is "exclusively for the China market". I take that to mean Chinese buyers are looking for a niche vehicle; bigger than the usual midsize sedan but not as big as the full size 7 Series/S Class/A8 flagships. To that end a stretched 5 Series has an audience but again ONLY in China.
run_and_drive says:
10:58 AM, 04/05/2010
And this is different from a 7-series how? Redundant much? Or does BMW not sell the 7 in China?