India to Get China-spec Long-wheelbase BMW X5 in Late 2027

BMW will bring the next-generation X5 SUV to India in a long-wheelbase (LWB) form, according to sources familiar with the automaker's plans. The move comes as the German carmaker continues to expand its line-up of stretched-wheelbase models for the Indian market, building on the strong reception of similar models already on sale here.

The next-generation X5 is set to make its global debut soon in all-electric iX5 guise, marking the model's shift to BMW's new Neue Klasse design philosophy — the same design language already introduced on the iX3 and i3 electric vehicles. The India-bound version, however, will be based on a China-spec LWB variant currently being developed alongside the standard model.

BMW has found considerable success with its existing LWB offerings in India, including the 3 Series LWB, 5 Series LWB, and iX1 LWB. All three were originally engineered for the Chinese market but have proven popular with Indian luxury buyers, a large proportion of whom are chauffeur-driven and place a premium on rear-seat space and legroom.

Given that the next-gen X5 has not yet been unveiled globally, and considering the additional engineering time required to adapt the SUV into LWB form, the model is unlikely to arrive in India before the second half of 2027. It will join other long-wheelbase BMWs already lined up for the Indian market, including the i5 LWB, expected to launch later this year, and the iX3 LWB, slated for a 2027 debut.

Design details of the next-generation X5 have already begun to emerge, with leaked images revealing a significant styling overhaul. The SUV will be among the first BMW models with an internal combustion engine to adopt the Neue Klasse aesthetic. At the front, it features sharp, blacked-out sections housing the headlamps alongside vertically-oriented illuminated kidney grilles. At the rear, the design includes a sportier, sloping roofline paired with wide, wraparound LED tail-lamps.

The cabin is expected to see an equally significant transformation, with a new layout built around a large rhomboidal touchscreen, a pillar-to-pillar Panoramic Vision display, and a quad-spoke steering wheel — features that have already begun appearing across BMW's newer models.

On the powertrain front, the new X5 is expected to continue offering petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid options for global and Indian markets. The line-up will also include the fully electric iX5, which is expected to come equipped with the largest battery pack fitted to any BMW EV to date.