Source: BMW

BMW (ETR: BMW) has unveiled official images of the China-built iX3 Long Wheelbase, confirming the electric SUV's world premiere at Auto China 2026 in Beijing this April, with a Chinese market launch scheduled for the second half of 2026.

The model is the first long-wheelbase all-electric Sports Activity Vehicle built on BMW's Neue Klasse architecture, and the brand's most localized China product to date.

Developed under the joint venture BMW Brilliance Automotive and manufactured at its Shenyang plant in Liaoning province, the iX3 Long Wheelbase — badged as the iX350L and carrying "Brilliance BMW" branding — extends the standard iX3's wheelbase by 108 mm to 3,005 mm, with all of the added length directed toward second-row passenger space.

Overall dimensions are 4,885 mm in length, 1,895 mm in width, and 1,635 mm in height. At 3,005 mm between the axles, the LWB model surpasses the wheelbase of the combustion-engine X3 LWB by 30 mm and matches the current X5, placing it in a competitive segment bracket beyond its nameplate would ordinarily suggest.

Source: BMW

China-specific regulation required BMW to develop a distinct door-handle solution for the model. The rear doors carry a semi-enclosed handle design rather than the retractable flush handles on the global iX3, in compliance with Chinese rules that restrict electronically-only-controlled handles following crashes where power failures were suspected to have prevented door operation.

The iX3 LWB adds a triple-redundancy system for door access: high-voltage battery direct supply, a 12V battery backup, and a mechanical fail-safe — making BMW's long-wheelbase model one of the first Western-brand vehicles engineered to meet China's new standard (GB 48001-2026, effective January 1, 2027) from the outset.

Under the skin, the iX3 Long Wheelbase shares the same powertrain as the global 50 xDrive. A 108 kWh battery pack paired with a front asynchronous motor and rear excited synchronous motor delivers 345 kW (463 hp) of combined output and 645 Nm of torque, enabling a 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) time of 4.9 seconds.

The 800V electrical architecture supports a peak DC charging rate of 400 kW, sufficient to add 427 km (265 miles) of range in approximately 10 minutes; a 10-to-80 percent charge takes around 21 minutes.

On the CLTC test cycle, BMW rates the LWB's range at more than 900 km (559 miles). The CLTC standard is materially more generous than WLTP; the global iX3 50 xDrive is rated at 805 km (500 miles) on WLTP, with an estimated 644 km (400 miles) under the more conservative EPA cycle.

The software stack is where the China version diverges most from its global sibling. BMW Operating System X has been localized with approximately 70 percent of software engineering developed in China. Alibaba and DeepSeek provide the large language model for the in-car voice assistant; Amap supplies 3D navigation tailored to complex Chinese interchange layouts; and Huawei contributes HarmonyOS Next ecosystem integration, HiCar connectivity, and Digital Key functionality.

Driver assistance is handled by a full-scene navigation-assisted driving system co-developed with autonomous driving startup Momenta, covering both highway and urban scenarios, built on Momenta's end-to-end Flywheel large model. The system uses a unified "Perception-Planning-Control" architecture tuned to China's road conditions and traffic behavior.

The cockpit introduces BMW Panoramic iDrive, centered on a "Visual Cone" layout combining Panoramic Vision head-up display, a 3D Head-Up Display, and a driver-facing central display. A panoramic sunroof and rear-seat comfort enhancements — including deeper seatback recline, adjustable thigh support, and wireless charging in the armrest — target the executive-transport segment.

Exterior highlights include Digital Angel Wing daytime running lights, a 3D Luminous Grille, horizontal L-shaped taillights, and a new central rear camera integrated into the roof spoiler. Nine body colors are available, including Frozen Space Silver.

Production of the 50L xDrive is slated to begin at the Shenyang plant in June 2026, with the 30L and 40L xDrive variants entering production in September. An M Performance variant, the M60L xDrive, is expected by mid-2027. Pricing has not been disclosed; BMW says it will be confirmed closer to the market launch.

Following the China launch, BMW plans to sell the iX3 Long Wheelbase in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and India — markets where rear-seat space and local software integration are equally high priorities for premium buyers. The iX3 is one of more than 20 new vehicles BMW plans to introduce in China in 2026, part of a broader offensive to recover market share lost to domestic EV brands during 2024 and 2025.

Whether a vehicle engineered so specifically for one market can serve as the template for BMW's wider Asia-Pacific recovery remains the question its April debut will begin to answer.