By BMW is planning to launch the 3 Series Long Wheelbase in India as a replacement for the 3 Series GT, which has been discontinued globally and the company is not planning to introduce a successor. The 3 Series GT was the best selling model for BMW in India and one of the main reason for the success is the space it offered at the rear as it is based on the long-wheelbase 3 Series, customers in India definitely like additional legroom at the rear.
The 3 Series Long Wheelbase is already on sale in Chine but India will be the first market to get the right-hand-drive version of the sedan and it will be the only model in its class to offer it, which will be a big selling point. When Mercedes introduced E Class Long Wheelbase in India everyone was sceptical about the success due to the slightly higher pricing but the E Class has ruled the market and it is the current market leader in its segment.
When compared to the regular 3 Series, the long-wheelbase model is 120 mm longer and 28 mm taller, while the wheelbase increased by 110 mm and it is bigger than the outgoing 3 Series GT. The rear legroom increased by 43 mm and the company redesigned the speakers at the rear door. The engineers have also made some changes to the rear seats as cushioning and bolstering is better along with softer headrest to make the ride even more comfortable.
BMW has also added new ambient lighting and a panoramic sunroof. The company might make some changes to the suspension system for Indian road conditions but it will be a true BMW as handling won’t be sacrificed. Apart from these, the regular 3 Series and Long Wheelbase model will be identical. The badging will have “L” nameplate as it will help non-enthusiasts to identify the model and we can expect some new colour options too.
The 3 Series Long Wheelbase will be available in both petrol and diesel engine options. The 2.0 L turbo petrol engine puts out 255 PS at 5,000 rpm and 400 Nm of torque at 1,500 – 4,400 rpm. The diesel engine is a 2.0 L unit producing 188 hp at 4,000 rpm and 400 Nm at 1,750 rpm. Both these engines are mated to 8-speed automatic gearbox. The 3 Series Long Wheelbase will be priced between 48-52 lakh and it will likely shake up the segment. BMW will launch the Long Wheelbase 3 Series next year in India.
