China’s EV market is fiercely competitive, and BMW’s way of standing out for the past few years has been to develop long-wheelbase models built exclusively for China. This year, that comes in the form of the new BMW iX3 L. Unveiled at the 2026 Beijing Autoshow, it features a stretched wheelbase alongside exclusive software upgrades.
The biggest highlight to the new BMW iX3 L is, unsurprisingly, its lengthened proportions. The new iX3 L boasts a wheelbase of 3,005 mm — 108 mm longer than the standard model made for global markets. There are also conventional pull-up door handles due to China’s latest regulations that outlaw concealed/powered door handles by 2027.
Aside from those changes, the iX3 L looks largely identical to the standard global model. Based on the iX3 50 xDrive specification, it features black exterior accents, slim LED lighting signatures, and large 22-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, while retaining BMW’s latest Neue Klasse design language.
As for the interior, we weren’t able to get a closer look at the cabin. However, It should largely mirror the standard model’s layout, albeit with additional rear legroom thanks to the extended wheelbase. Expect BMW’s Panoramic Vision display, paired with a 17.9-inch central touchscreen. The brand’s new unconventional multi-spoke steering wheel design will also make an appearance.
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Most notably, the car will feature a host of technology tailored specifically for the Chinese market. BMW partnered with Alibaba to develop a custom large language model (LLM) with integrated DeepSeek AI capabilities. The Chinese-tailored system is also expected to feature Huawei HarmonyOS integration, alongside Amap 3D navigation and Momenta’s all-scenario driver assistance system.
In terms of performance, the iX3 L is expected to closely mirror the iX3 50 xDrive. The SUV rides on an 800V architecture and features a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup producing a combined 469 hp and 645 Nm of torque. Power is supplied by a 108.7 kWh NMC battery pack, which supports up to 400 kW DC fast charging, allowing a 10-80% charge in just 21 minutes. Vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality is also included.
BMW claims a driving range of up to 900 km under the CLTC cycle for the Chinese model. However, this figure is measured under China’s more lenient testing standard and therefore it is less efficient to the global model which boasts 805 km under the WLTP test cycle. (approx. 982 km CLTC)
While BMW has yet to release official acceleration figures for the iX3 L, the standard iX3 50 xDrive completes the 0-100 km/h sprint in just 4.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 210 km/h.
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Interestingly, the iX3 L will not remain exclusive to China. BMW has already confirmed that the long-wheelbase EV is also headed to several international markets, including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and India.
That said, it remains unclear whether the Malaysia-bound model will retain the same China-specific software suite. Due to differing regional regulations and market requirements, some features, particularly the ADAS and connectivity systems, could differ from the Chinese-market version. The BMW iX3 L is expected to make its global debut later this year before entering selected international markets shortly after.
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