BMW X3 Long Wheelbase Revealed; Intended Only For China

BMW has revealed new variants of the X3, tailored specifically for China. Since it is intended for the Chinese market, BMW is offering the X3 as a long-wheelbase (LWB) version. However, it seems highly unlikely the X3 LWB will come to India since BMW just launched the standard X3 in India at the 2025 Auto Expo. 

The X3 LWB is available in three variants – X3 xDrive25L Luxury, X3 xDrive30L Pioneering M Sport and X3 xDrive30L Exclusive M Sport. All variants get a 2.0-litre, turbo-petrol engine. In the 25L, the engine develops 188 bhp and 310 Nm, and in the 30L, it churns out 255 bhp and 400 Nm. The specifications of the 25L is the same as the X3 xDrive20 available in India. 

The wheelbase of the X3 LWB is 111 mm longer than the standard wheelbase version, with 96 mm added for the second row. Despite the longer wheelbase, the X3 LWB doesn’t look odd. For the Chinese market, the X3 LWB is available in five exterior colours – Mineral White, Speed Blue, Brooklyn Grey, Skyscraper Grey and Carbon Black – and brown, blue and red interior themes. It also gets the illuminated grille as well as BMW iDrive OS 9 which gets China-specific content. 

The X3 LWB will be manufactured at BMW’ Plant Lydia in Shenyang China. BMW will presumably build a lot of units of the X3 LWB as it accounts for around 40 per cent of all BMW SUVs sold in China. It won’t be surprising to see BMW launch the X3 LWB in India after a while as it also recently launched the iX1 L in India, despite the standard version being launched in India 1.5 years before that. Even the ICE iX1 is expected to get a long-wheelbase version soon.