China-Exclusive BMW iX3 Long Wheelbase Nears Final Development
BMW is preparing to expand its Neue Klasse family with a model that most global customers will never get the chance to buy. The company is close to finishing development of a long-wheelbase version of the iX3, built specifically for the Chinese market and set to go on sale next year. The electric SUV—internally labeled NA6—was first hinted at earlier this year and will be manufactured exclusively at BMW’s joint-venture plant in Shenyang.
Global Testing for a Market-Specific EV
Although the stretched iX3 won’t be offered outside China, BMW is finalizing the model on European roads. Prototypes have been spotted completing high-speed runs across the continent, including laps at the Nürburgring. Engineers are using these sessions to refine efficiency and handling, even though customer priorities in China tend to lean more toward ride comfort and rear-seat amenities.
The unusual global testing pattern reflects BMW’s broader approach with Neue Klasse vehicles: validate them under a wide variety of conditions, even if their final markets differ.
More Space, More Comfort
BMW has not yet released specifications for the long-wheelbase version, but the formula is predictable. The standard iX3 rides on a 2,897 mm (114 in.) wheelbase, and the long-wheelbase model is expected to stretch beyond that. For comparison, the combustion-powered X3 LWB sold in China is 111 mm (4.4 in.) longer between the axles than the international X3.
In the gasoline model, the added length translates into meaningful comfort upgrades: a rear seat that reclines an extra four degrees, a pull-out thigh support, and China-specific luxury touches such as crystal-finish controls, ambient lighting integrated into the rear doors, and illuminated threads in the panoramic roof.
A similar approach is expected for the long-wheelbase iX3, which should deliver a noticeably more spacious rear cabin along with unique upholstery options and additional comfort features tailored to local preferences.
China-Focused Technology
BMW has already confirmed that the China-market iX3 will receive localized driver-assistance and automation features developed in partnership with Momenta. The company’s CEO, Oliver Zipse, recently referred to these additions as “digital solutions made in China,” suggesting deeper integration between vehicle systems and local digital services.
The cooperation continues BMW’s strategy of adapting software and autonomous-driving stacks to individual regions—especially in China, where competitors such as NIO, Xpeng, and Huawei are pushing rapid advancements in automated mobility.
Production Timeline and Variants
Local production of the new iX3 Long Wheelbase is expected to start in May 2026. The first version will reportedly be the iX3 50L xDrive, followed later in the year by the 30L and 40L xDrive models. A high-performance M60L xDrive variant is rumored to follow in mid-2027, though BMW has not confirmed any details.
What is not expected to materialize is a long-wheelbase version of the upcoming electric X3 M, which continues separate development as BMW works on its next generation of electric M vehicles.
A China-First Strategy
Long-wheelbase variants have become a crucial strategy for luxury brands in China, where buyers often prioritize rear-seat comfort over driver-focused characteristics. BMW has applied this approach to sedans and SUVs for more than a decade, and the extended iX3 continues that trend into the company’s next era of electric vehicles.
For the rest of the world, the long-wheelbase iX3 will remain a curiosity—tested in Europe, engineered in Germany, but destined solely for Chinese roads.
