BMW i5 Long Wheelbase Launched in India at Rs 79.60 Lakh

BMW's first India-assembled electric sedan, the i5 LWB, arrives at Rs 79.60 lakh with a 81.6 kWh battery and 669 km claimed range. Deliveries have begun.

BMW India has priced its new i5 Long Wheelbase (LWB) at an introductory Rs 79.60 lakh, ex-showroom. The car is the company's first electric sedan to be put together on Indian soil, rolling out of the BMW Group Plant in Chennai. Customer handovers have started right away.

The model reaches showrooms in a single eDrive35L M Sport trim. Alongside it, BMW offered a limited First Edition carrying the same Rs 79.60 lakh sticker. Demand was quick: every one of the 99 First Edition cars found a buyer even before the model was formally unveiled. For context, the petrol-only BMW 5 Series, sold here as the 2.0-litre 530 Li, retails at Rs 76.60 lakh, ex-showroom.

Stretched for rear-seat passengers

The i5 LWB measures 5,175 mm from nose to tail, stands 2,156 mm across and 1,520 mm tall, riding on a 3,105 mm wheelbase. BMW describes it as the biggest car in its class, and says the extra length and stretched wheelbase free up more room for those seated at the back.

Styling touches include the illuminated BMW Iconic Glow surround on the kidney grille, adaptive LED headlamps, door handles that sit flush with the bodywork and 20-inch M alloy wheels. The reworked Hofmeister kink carries an embossed '5', and the tail lamps use a slim LED signature. Buyers can pick from four paint options: Mineral White, Phytonic Blue, Carbon Black and Oxide Grey.

Two changes were made specifically for the local market. The sedan gets adaptive rear-axle air suspension to smooth out the ride, and its ground clearance has been raised to cope better with Indian roads.

81.6 kWh battery, 669 km claimed range

Driving the rear wheels is an electric motor rated at 268 hp and 410 Nm. The sprint from standstill to 100 km/h takes a claimed 6.7 seconds, and the car tops out at 195 km/h. Energy comes from an 81.6 kWh battery, which BMW says returns up to 669 km on the MIDC cycle.

That pairing of a chauffeur-focused long-wheelbase body with a lengthy claimed range is one of the model's central selling points. The battery accepts DC fast charging at rates up to 160 kW, taking it from 10 to 80 percent in a claimed 33 minutes. Each car ships with an 11 kW BMW Wallbox charger, with installation covered.

Cabin technology and comfort

Inside, the driver faces the BMW Curved Display, which pairs a 12.3-inch digital cluster with a 14.9-inch touchscreen. The system runs BMW Operating System 8.5 and supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Digital Key Plus and connected-car services.

Further equipment covers ventilated front comfort seats, four-zone climate control, Veganza vegan-leather upholstery, the Sky Lounge panoramic glass roof, CraftedClarity crystal controls and a Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound setup. Wireless charging pads sit up front and in the rear armrest. The back seats, the model's priority, add extra padding and more legroom for owners who are driven rather than driving.

The sold-out First Edition layers on a rear-seat entertainment kit with a tablet and holder, BMW Individual Silver Bronze trim, open-pore wood inlays and 'FIRST EDITION' engraving. It wears Carbon Black Metallic paint set off by Titanium Bronze exterior detailing.

Safety kit

The i5 LWB carries eight airbags and a full suite of driver-assistance systems. These include Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Parking Assistant Professional, smartphone-operated Remote Parking, Lane Change Warning, Cross Traffic Warning, Front and Rear Collision Warning and Exit Warning.

BMW already builds a range of luxury cars and SUVs locally in India, and the i5 LWB extends that list to become its first domestically produced electric sedan. At Rs 79.60 lakh, the car also carries BMW's long-wheelbase approach into the electric executive segment, matching its 3,105 mm wheelbase and rear air suspension with a claimed 669 km of range.

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