Chinese consumers like their saloons with extra long wheelbases. Abiding by the logic that the client is always right, BMW placed the new 5-Series sedan on the procrustean bed and stretched its wheelbase up by 140mm or 5.5-inches. The car now measures 5,039mm or 198-in. in length with a wheelbase of 3,108mm or 122.4-in
Developed exclusively for the Chinese market, the 5-Series LWB model is built at BMW's plant in Shenyang in cooperation with a large number of regional partners.
To justify its limo-like character, BMW came up with what it calls "a high-comfort rear seat bench" that was developed specifically for this model.
Chinese buyers that intend to spend of not all, most of their time at the back seat can opt for an array of goodies including four-zone automatic a/c, rear-seat entertainment, a cooling box as well as electrically adjustable sunblinds on the rear side windows and a folding table integrated in the backrest of the front passenger's seat.
The Chinese-market 5er is offered with three straight-six gasoline engines, all combined with BMW's eight-speed automatic transmission.
The entry-level 523Li is powered by a 204HP 2.5-liter unit, the 528Li by a 258HP 3.0-liter engine and the range-topping 535Li by a turbocharged 3.0-liter engine with 306 horsepower.
The new 5-Series LWB will have its world premiere at the Auto China 2010 that will be held in Beijing from April 25 to May 2.
It's worth mentioning that in 2009, China was BMW's fourth largest market with sales of 90,536 units.
