You probably know that the Chinese are very fond of cars with an extended wheelbase to drive them with maximum comfort. As a result, many European brands produce models with a long wheelbase only for the Chinese market. BMW is used to this practice, and after it was done on “small” models like the 3 Series, the Bavarian manufacturer has taken aim at its much more imposing X5 SUV.

BMW X5 with a wheelbase extended by 13 cm

Presented at the Chengdu Motor Show in China, xDrive30Li and xDrive40Li versions identical in all respects to the BMW X5 sold elsewhere in the world. Recently updated SUV. Except that these two Chinese variants have a wheelbase extended by 13 cm, which now reaches 3.1 m in length! Or the equivalent of its big brother, the BMW X7. Thus, the Chinese X5 is now 5.07 m long, 2 m wide and 1.77 m high. One last small difference between these extended versions and the others: the rear seats have also been specially adapted to increase the comfort of the second row passengers.

Unprecedented 4-cylinder

These Chinese X5s feature identical styling to those sold in the rest of the world, except for their dimensions, of course. On the other hand, they will benefit from new engines, starting with the 4-cylinder xDrive30Li variant. A 2-liter engine that delivers 258 hp. and 400 Nm of torque to 4 wheels, accelerating to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds. Not bad for a pachyderm weighing about 2.25 tons.

xDrive40Li and its inline 6-cylinder engine

And that’s not all, except for the entry-level 4-cylinder version, the Chinese X5 also exists in the xDrive40Li versionstill and always reserved for China. This time it is an in-line 6-cylinder engine with a capacity of 380 hp. and a torque of 520 Nm, which rotates all 4 wheels. The mechanism thanks to which the German SUV accelerates to 100 km/h in just 5.5 seconds and develops a maximum speed of 250 km/h! Recall that in France, the X5 is available only with the xDrive30d diesel engine with a capacity of 298 hp, in the xDrive50e version with a battery hybrid capacity of 489 hp, not forgetting the M Competition version.

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