According to a media report, German premium car manufacturer BMW is planning to bring the BMW 3 Series with an LWB (Long WheelBase) version for the Indian market. If the brand brings the BMW 3 Series in the LWB avatar it will be the first BMW 3 Series to get the configuration in the right-hand drive market. The report also suggests that the new LWB 3 Series will replace the BMW 3 GT in the Indian market and will be slightly longer in terms of its overall length and wheelbase than the Gran Tourismo version.
To put things into perspective, the BMW 3 GT measures 4824mm in length, 1828mm in width, 1508mm in height, 2920mm of wheelbase. The BMW 3 Series LWB measures 4829mm in length, 1827mm in width, 1463mm of height and a wheelbase of 2961mm of the wheelbase. For comparison, the standard 2020 BMW 3 Series measures 4709mm in length, 1827mm in width, 1435mm of height and a wheelbase of 2851mm.
The has recently launched the new 2020 BMW 3 Series in India starting at the price of INR 41.70 lakh ex-showroom, India and is in its seventh-generation. The current BMW 3 Series in India is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder BMW TwinPower Turbo petrol engine that produces 258 hp of power and 400 Nm of torque mated to an 8-speed Steptronic Sport Automatic Transmission which sends the power to the rear wheels and a 2.0-litre four-cylinder BMW TwinPower Turbo diesel engine that produces 190 hp of power and 400 Nm of torque coupled to an 8-Speed Steptronic Sport Automatic Transmission.
Currently, the Long Wheelbase BMW 3 Series is only available for sale in the Chinese market and when it comes to the Indian market it will be the first market to get the right-hand-drive 3 Series LWB.
The Indian market has always had a trend for the long-wheelbase model especially among premium brands, and carmakers with long-wheelbase cars have grabbed a healthy chunk of sales through their limousine like cars which are popular among costumers who want a chauffeur-driven vehicle with ample leg space in the rear row.
The Long Wheelbase BMW 3 Series is expected to carry a differentiating nomenclature such as ‘330Li’ and is expected to reach showrooms by Mid-2021.