- BMW has developed a separate version of the i3 for the Chinese market.
- It has a longer wheelbase for extra legroom in the back.
- The i3 L doesn’t have the global model’s pop-out door handles.
BMW’s sales in China have been on a slippery slope for the past few years, but the luxury brand aims to bounce back with a fresh wave of Neue Klasse models. Ahead of its public debut later this week at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, the i3 Long Wheelbase shows what most of the world won’t be able to buy.
While it looks largely familiar, several key details immediately stand out. Aside from the more generous rear doors, the China-spec i3 doesn’t have the pop-out handles of its global counterpart. This wasn’t a design choice on BMW’s part but rather a last-minute change to comply with a new regulation in China that effectively bans completely flush door handles.
Curiously, there’s an M badge etched into the glossy black plastic trim next to the C-pillars. It’s an unexpected touch given that we’re dealing with a plain-Jane version, the i3 50 xDrive. Neue Klasse styling is supposed to simplify things, yet BMW appears to be taking a different approach in China. To make it stand out, the M lights up when you unlock the car.
Photo by: BMW
This i3 has a wheelbase of over three meters (118.1 inches), exceeding that of the 5 Series. However, the latter also has a stretched version in China, part of BMW’s portfolio of segment-blurring models. Even SUVs have received the long-wheelbase treatment in a market where rear-seat legroom remains a key selling point.
Although BMW quotes an impressive range of more than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles), the CLTC cycle on which that figure is based is known to be significantly more forgiving than WLTP and EPA standards. Even so, the i3 is claimed to offer segment-leading range in China. Like the international model, the electric sedan supports 400-kW charging; at full power, it needs just 10 minutes to add enough energy for a CLTC-rated 400 kilometers (249 miles).
BMW’s long-wheelbase models have typically been reserved for China, but that has started to change in recent years. The new iX3 LWB has already been confirmed for several other regions, so we wouldn’t rule out seeing the sedan elsewhere. Even so, most markets will get the standard-wheelbase versions without the option of their larger counterparts.
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Source: BMW
Motor1’s Take: The stretched body doesn’t negatively impact the i3’s profile, as the car looks just as athletic as the standard-wheelbase i3. Many buyers would likely prefer these semi-enclosed door handles and wouldn’t mind the extra wheelbase, either. Still, it will mostly remain forbidden fruit, as with the long-wheelbase 5 Series/i5.
It remains to be seen whether BMW’s influx of China-centric models will turn things around. If priced correctly in a fiercely competitive market, they could at least help stop the sales decline. Inside, the screen-heavy Neue Klasse setup feels tailored to Chinese tastes.
Despite several challenging years, China remains the company’s largest single market, accounting for a 25.4% share of total sales in 2025, including Mini. The BMW Group sold around 626,000 vehicles in China last year, a far cry from 2021, when BMW and Mini delivered approximately 847,900 units. With the iX3 and i3 waiting in the wings, Munich is hoping to close that gap.
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