Beijing show: BMW stretches 5 Series

BMW will use this week’s Beijing motor show to introduce a long-wheelbase version of its new 5 Series sedan for the Chinese market.

The stretched 5 Series, which offers an extra 137.5mm of rear legroom, making it similar in size to the new 7 Series upon which it is based, will be built exclusively for China at BMW's Shenyang plant.

The longer iteration of the sixth-generation Five will come with four-cylinder turbo-diesel and six-cylinder turbo-petrol engines, a revised rear axle to handle the extra length and weight, plus a redesigned rear seat.

Based on the redesigned 5 Series that goes on sale here in May, the LWB sedan will be joined at Beijing by Asian debuts for BMW’s facelifted 3 Series coupe and convertible, the facelifted X5, BMW’s 1 Series Coupe-based Concept ActiveE and Mini’s all-new Countryman SUV.

BMW last week also announced the availability of its xDrive all-wheel drive system for selected variants of its 5 Series GT and 7 Series sedan ranges in Europe. No AWD-equipped 5 GT or 7 Series models are expected to be sold in Australia.