BMW has launched the i5 Long Wheelbase at an introductory Rs 79.60 lakh ex-showroom, giving its electric 5 Series a rear-seat-focused version that is also assembled locally at the company’s Chennai plant.
There is one drivetrain at launch, the i5 eDrive35L M Sport. It uses an 81.6kWh battery, a rear-mounted electric motor producing 268hp and 410Nm, and has a claimed MIDC range of up to 669km.
The i5 LWB can accelerate from 0 to 100 Kmph in 6.7 seconds and has a 195 Kmph top speed. Deliveries begin immediately. BMW also offered a 99-car First Edition at the same Rs 79.60 lakh price, and says all 99 units were sold before the official launch.
The i5 LWB measures 5,175mm in length and has a 3,105mm wheelbase. That stretched wheelbase is central to the car’s positioning. BMW has designed this version for customers who may spend as much time in the rear seat as behind the steering wheel.
Rear passengers get extra space, heavily cushioned seats, four-zone climate control and a large Sky Lounge panoramic glass roof. The First Edition adds a tablet-based rear entertainment package.
The cabin uses vegan Veganza upholstery as standard. Front seats get ventilation, while the dashboard combines a 12.3-inch digital instrument display with a 14.9-inch touchscreen. Other equipment includes a Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound system, crystal-finished controls, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Digital Key Plus and wireless charging trays in both the front console and rear armrest.
The 81.6 kWh battery is the key mechanical specification. BMW claims up to 669 Km on the MIDC test cycle. As always, real-world range will vary with speed, traffic, climate-control use and driving conditions, so the certified figure should not be read as a guaranteed highway distance. Expect two thirds of the MIDC range for normal driving, which means about 450 Kms per charge.
DC charging is supported at up to 160kW. BMW says a 10 to 80 percent charge can take 33 minutes when a suitable fast charger is available. A 11 kW BMW Wallbox and installation are included with the car.
The i5 eDrive35L is rear-wheel drive rather than an all-wheel-drive performance model. Its 268hp output is modest compared with the 601hp i5 M60 xDrive previously sold here, but the LWB has a very different brief. This version prioritises range and rear-seat comfort over outright acceleration.
BMW has also changed the suspension for that comfort-focused role. The i5 LWB gets adaptive rear-axle air suspension and increased ground clearance for local road conditions. It runs on 20-inch M alloy wheels with wider rear tyres.
Driver-assistance equipment includes active cruise control with stop-and-go, lane-change warning, front and rear collision warning, cross-traffic warning and parking assistance. Parking Assistant Professional adds remote parking through a smartphone, along with manoeuvring and reversing assistance. There are eight airbags, stability control, auto hold and active pedestrian protection.
At Rs 79.60 lakh, the i5 LWB is considerably cheaper than the performance-focused imported i5 M60 xDrive that BMW launched earlier at over Rs 1 crore. Local production is an important reason BMW can place the new version differently.
It also gives BMW an electric counterpart to the long-wheelbase luxury sedans that have become particularly important in this market. The regular 5 Series itself is sold here only in long-wheelbase form.
The i5 LWB’s strongest numbers are therefore not its acceleration figures. They are the 3,105 mm wheelbase, 669 Km claimed range and Rs. 79.60 lakh price. BMW has paired those with rear air suspension, four-zone climate control and a cabin clearly designed around chauffeur-driven use.