- BMW reveals camouflaged version of the long-wheelbase iX3 destined for China and other Asian markets.
- It’s 4.25 inches (10.8 centimeters) longer than the regular iX3 and has more space for rear passengers.
- Trial production began in China in December, and deliveries are expected to commence in the second half of the year.
BMW is preparing to begin European deliveries of its important new electric SUV, the iX3, this spring. But it’s changing the formula slightly for the Chinese market, where a long-wheelbase variant is being readied for launch. The stretched iX3 will be unveiled at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show in April before going on sale in China in the second part of the year.
Until it’s fully unveiled, we can get a good idea of what it will look like thanks to a set of photos showing a camouflaged prototype. The side profile photos immediately show the extra space between the two axles, which are 4.25 inches (10.8 centimeters)further apart than in the standard model, and the new proportions make it look a lot like the BMW iX from the side.
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Source: BMW
All the extra length is meant to enhance rear seat space, which should be pretty impressive given that the iX3 is already pretty accommodating in the second row. BMW also cites that a “China-specific chassis and suspension setup has been developed to ensure a refined balance between comfort and stability across a wide range of driving scenarios.” This likely means it’s softer than the standard-wheelbase iX3 sold elsewhere, which is what Chinese buyers prefer.
BMW also describes the iX3 LWB as following an “in China, for China, and with China” philosophy. However, it will be sold in other markets, including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and India. There is little chance of seeing it in Western markets, though, since these long-wheelbase versions of models we already get here almost never reach our shores.
Trial production of the iX3 LWB began in December at the BMW Brilliance plant in Shenyang, and it will ramp up through 2026, although BMW didn’t say what the annual production target is for this model. The main factory in Hungary, where the regular iX3 is being built, plans to ramp up to 150,000 units per year starting in 2027, but the China plant could even exceed that if there is demand.
Aside from the stretched body, the iX3L is identical to its standard-length counterpart. It rides on the same 800-volt Neue Klasse platform, which features BMW’s sixth-generation electric powertrain and battery technology. BMW doesn’t quote its specific battery capacity, but it likely won’t change for the long version, which is expected to exceed 560 miles (900 km) on the CLTC test cycle. That’s more optimistic than the iX3’s WLTP rating of up to 500 miles (805 km), which in turn is higher than its expected 400-mile (640 km) EPA range in the United States.
One thing that will be different in China is the operating system running in the iX3L. BMW says it’s 70% locally developed and features large language model integration from Alibaba and DeepSeek for the car’s AI-powered voice assistant. The driver assistance systems are also different and are “tailored to local traffic conditions and usage scenarios.”
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