The BMW iX3 is about to expand, with a new “long wheelbase” version announced this week ahead of its public unveiling at the 2026 Beijing Motor Show in April.
The launch in China “and select international markets” is planned for the second half of 2026 BMW iX3 long wheelbase The wheelbase has been extended by 108mm compared to the global-spec iX3, which BMW says “significantly improves rear seat comfort and overall space.”
The iX3 LWB also gets a special chassis and suspension setup tailored to the Chinese market “to ensure a refined balance between comfort and stability in a variety of driving scenarios.”
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BMW says the stretched iX3 makes no compromises on “agility, steering precision or overall vehicle control,” while the new “Soft Stop” feature claims to offer the “smoothest stopping action ever achieved by a BMW.”
The iX3 Long Wheelbase also gets a tailored version of the Panoramic iDrive infotainment interface, which includes the new BMW Operating System X, a head-up display and a “Shy-Tech” multifunction steering wheel with illuminated haptic controls.
According to the German brand, the iX3 Long Wheelbase’s operating system contains “approximately 70 percent locally developed software technology.”
For example, the navigation system was developed in collaboration with Amap to provide “precise visualization of complex intersections and highway entrances,” while the Intelligent Personal Assistant was enhanced with large language models from Alibaba and DeepSeek for faster and more natural speech recognition.
Huawei technologies have also been integrated – including Digital Key, HiCar and the My BMW app, which is based on the Chinese company’s HarmonyOS NEXT software – supporting connectivity between the vehicle, personal devices and home ecosystems.
Under the skin, the iX3 Long Wheelbase is based on the same Neue Klasse architecture as the standard iX3, including its 800V electric architecture and sixth-generation BMW eDrive electric drive systems.
BMW says the long-wheelbase iX3 will offer a combined CLTC range of “more than 900 kilometers” – although it is expected that the CLTC method is milder and less accurate than the WLTP system.
Additionally, the iX3 LWB offers the same 400kW charging capacity as the global specification iX3, meaning it can add more than 400km of range in around 10 minutes using a compatible fast charger.
A Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function will also be available, allowing the long-wheelbase iX3 to power external electrical devices.
Beyond the Chinese market, BMW plans to introduce the iX3 Long Wheelbase in “select international markets,” including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and India.
The long-wheelbase iX3 is not the first time that BMW has developed a stretched version of one of its vehicles for the Chinese market, as the current 3 Series is also offered in a long-wheelbase version. Other brands such as Audi, Cadillac, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo have also done the same.
The standard BMW iX3 is expected to launch in Australia in mid-2026 and will initially be offered as a single 50 xDrive trim level, powered by a 345kW/645Nm dual-motor electric drive and a 108kWh battery with a range of 805km.
BMW Australia will add more variants in early 2027, likely a cheaper single-engine “iX3 40” and a faster performance model iX3 60 xDrive. A complete iX3 M is also said to be in development.
MORE: Test report on the BMW iX3 2026 – Fast drive
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