The lengthy wheelbase BMW 5 Sequence has been revealed in China, and along with dollops of additional rear seat leg room, the LWB mannequin beneficial properties quite a lot of unique options.
Like earlier generations of the 5 Sequence LWB, the China-market mannequin isn’t an enormous design departure from the brief wheelbase variant out there in the remainder of the world. If something, the LWB mannequin appears — at the least to this author — higher proportioned because of rear doorways which now not look too small.
There are a small variety of stylistic prospers unique to the China-only LWB mannequin, chief amongst these is the bigger Hoffmeister kink trim piece within the C-pillar, which now consists of an illuminated ‘5’ emblem.
Within the petrol-powered 5 Sequence fashions, this emblem glows white, however in i5 variants it’s blue and pulses gently when the automobile is being charged.
When you like bronze, BMW is joyful to oblige with each exterior and inside trim items, in addition to alloy wheel highlights.
For inside, the LWB is offered with the Theatre Display setup borrowed from the range-topping 7 Sequence. This method has a 31.3-inch 8K display that flips down from the ceiling to maintain rear seat passengers entertained.
Different out there options embrace a Bowers & Wilkins Diamond encompass sound system, 5G connectivity, four-zone local weather management, embossed head rests, and quilted two-tone seat designs.
As with 5 Sequence fashions offered elsewhere, the LWB model has a curved show space rising out of the dashboard. The LWB mannequin does, nonetheless, embrace “China-specific digital providers”.
BMW has but to disclose how a lot greater the LWB mannequin is, however we count on it to be much like the earlier technology automobile, which had a 130mm longer wheelbase matched with the same soar in total size.
If we’re proper, the 5 Sequence LWB must be roughly 5.2m lengthy, and have a wheelbase round 3125mm. Width (1900mm) and peak (1515mm) will probably be the identical for each fashions.
Equally, BMW hasn’t gone into any element concerning the drivetrains, besides to say there will likely be petrol-powered 5 Sequence and all-electric i5 variants.
The LWB 5 Sequence will likely be “produced solely for the Chinese language market” by BMW Brilliance at its manufacturing unit in Shenyang, not too removed from the North Korean border. Solely the lengthy wheelbase variant will likely be offered in China, therefore the lacking ‘L’ suffix.
BMW claims it has manufactured round two million 5 Sequence sedans in China, which means 20 per cent of all 5 Sequence vehicles made for the reason that mannequin’s introduction in 1972 have been offered within the Center Kingdom.
In keeping with the automaker, the 5 Sequence is the preferred automobile in China’s “premium higher mid-range automobile section”.
