BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine To Launch On January 21, 2021
The BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine, basically the long-wheelbase version of BMW’s sedan, will launch on January 21, 2021. The announcement of the launch by BMW India confirms our scoop from June 2020, when we announced that the long-wheelbase 3 Series will arrive in India in 2021. This also implies that India is the first market for right-hand drive to get the 3 Series long-wheelbase version.
In addition to the longer wheelbase length, 110 mm to be exact, the 3 Series Gran Limousine is also 120 mm longer and slightly wider than the regular model. Note that in terms of visual variations, a simple look at the regular and long-wheelbase 3 Series won’t show much.
On the inside, between the regular car and the BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine, the driver and front passenger can not see any difference. It’s the rear room, however, which gets more than a couple of updates.
The longer wheelbase gives the rear passengers an additional 43 mm of legroom, the longer rear doors provide easier entry, and the seat has also been reinforced with improved cushioning and reinforcement.
As long as the regular car-LED headlights and tail-lights, a panoramic sunroof, interior mood lighting, multi-zone climate control, an 8.8-inch touchscreen with BMW’s iDrive infotainment system, and more will be available in terms of features, expect a selection of equipment.
It is also expected that engine choices between the regular and long-wheelbase 3 Series will be shared. The Gran Limousine is planned to be available with a 258hp, 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and a 190hp, 2.0-litre turbo-diesel unit.
In BMW’s India line-up, the 3 Series Gran Limousine will sit between the 3 Series and 5 Series, given its size. It won’t share space with the 3 Series GT, however, as this model has been excluded from the international portfolio of the company and will also soon be removed from the India line-up. For now, in special Shadow Edition form, the 3 Series Gran Tursimo is on sale.
This implies that the price of the BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine will also be higher than the current 3 Series, which sells between Rs 42.30-49.30 lakh (ex-showroom, pan-India).
A long-wheelbase version of its Mercedes-Benz C-class and Jaguar XE rivals may give BMW an advantage in the segment if it is priced right to avoid cannibalizing its sales. When they launch, the new Audi A4 facelift and the next-gen Volvo S60 will also compete against the regular 3 Series.
