- The BMW iX3 Long Wheelbase is not only bigger, but also classier.
- The rear seats are thicker with a wider backrest.
- The front passenger seat is equipped with a footrest.
China’s long-wheelbase tradition may have started with sedans, but SUVs have also been extended to maximize interior space. The first Neue Klasse model from BMW to receive the LWB treatment is the new iX3, which joins the combustion-powered X3 already offered locally on an extended wheelbase.
Just like the petrol version, the fully electric iX3 gets significant interior upgrades over the global version. It’s not just about increasing rear legroom, as BMW has made several other changes for the Chinese market. Rear passengers benefit from a more comfortable seating position, with longer and thicker seats offering a more comfortable backrest.
Surprisingly, especially for a vehicle destined for China where screens dominate, the iX3 ironically features more physical controls than international models. While heated rear seat buttons will also appear on the standard wheelbase version, the front cab adds more hard buttons. Passengers have quick access controls for seat adjustment, equipped with a footrest for extra comfort.
Photo by: BMW
Other upgrades include nice two-tone upholstery, improved ambient lighting, fancier speaker grilles, and a wireless charging pad integrated into the rear center armrest. Of course, the most obvious improvement is rear legroom, thanks to the wheelbase expanding by 108 millimeters (4.2 inches) to 3,005 millimeters (118.3 inches). The completely flat floor clearly indicates a platform designed specifically for electric vehicles.
Outside, the longer doors make it clear that this iX3 is bigger in China, where new regulations forced BMW to remove the global model’s pop-out door handles at the last minute. To meet this, the electric crossover adopts the conventional handle design seen on several models, including the X3. Similar last-minute changes were also applied to the long-wheelbase i3 sedan.
Traditionally, BMW SUVs and sedans were sold exclusively in China, but this is no longer always the case. The new iX3 will also reach other markets, although not major regions like Europe or North America. Meanwhile, the standard-wheelbase iX3 has not yet gone on sale in the United States, and deliveries are expected to begin this fall.
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Source: BMW
Motorcycle Pickup1: Offering both iX3 variants globally would be ideal, but it’s easy to see how this could be a logistical challenge. This would also add costs that BMW would find difficult to justify. However, official images suggest most markets will see smaller gains, as the long-wheelbase model appears to feature a much more luxurious interior.
In addition to the X3 and iX3, BMW has also developed the X1/iX1 and X5 in China, and plans to do the same with the next-generation X5 debuting this summer. The model will also give birth to the first electric iX5, and the larger interior will apparently provide other advantages for Chinese buyers. As before, the new models should be much cheaper than international models, despite being bigger and classier.
