Two other BMW 3 Series long wheelbase models were in display at the BMW exhibit in Shanghai. We just saw yesterday a red 325Li model and today, we will get the chance to see a Portimao Blue 3 Series with the M Sport Package and another 325Li with the Luxury Line.
The new G20 BMW 3 Series is available in long-wheelbase form only in the Chinese market, while no other market gets it. This isn’t new and it’s not exclusive to the 3 Series, as both Audi and Mercedes-Benz do the same with the A4 and C-Class, respectively.
The car was developed alongside the standard model with the help of Chinese engineers. The wheelbase was extended by 11 centimeters and comes with exclusive equipment features that are only available on the 3 Series in China. The rear doors are 11 centimeters longer as well and all that added length translates into 43 extra millimeters of legroom in the back. The rear seats have a slightly different shape to the ones found on the standard 3 series and come with ‘pampering upholstery’.
At launch, the long wheelbase BMW 3 Series can be had in 325Li trim which uses a 2.0 liter turbocharged engine making 184 HP and 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) of torque. There’s only one choice of transmission available, the brilliant 8-speed automatic unit. The car will be made by BMW Brilliance Automotive (BBA) at its Tiexi plant in Shenyang, Liaoning Province (north-eastern China).
