Neue Klasse BMW iX3 Long Wheelbase revealed; will PH get it?

The all-new BMW iX3 is inching closer to a Philippine debut after the German automaker held the regional launch of the EV at this year’s Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS). With Thailand getting first dibs on the Neue Klasse iX3 in Southeast Asia, other markets like the Philippines could be next in line to receive the latest EV.

However, we’re curious as to where BMW Philippines distributor SMC Asia Car Distributors Corp. will get the Neue Klasse iX3. That’s because the outgoing G08 BMW iX3 is sourced from China via BMW Brilliance in Dadong, Shenyang. Should BMW decide to get the Neue Klasse iX3 direct from Hungary, its sticker price might go up significantly.

Well, as it turns out, BMW China has just revealed the Neue Klasse iX3 built by BMW Brilliance, and it looks just like the ones that are made in Hungary. However, it does have some subtle differences compared to the iX3 manufactured in Hungary.

For starters, the full name of the EV made and sold in China is the BMW iX3 Long Wheelbase (LWB). That’s right, this particular iX3 is marginally longer, as it has a 3005mm wheelbase, which translates to more cabin space and possibly cargo room as well. In comparison, the standard iX3 comes with a 2895mm wheelbase. Since it gets a longer wheelbase, we won’t be surprised if the China-made Neue Klasse iX3 also has a slightly longer overall length at over 4800mm versus the iX3’s standard 4780mm length.

The rest of the vehicle is largely carried over from the regular iX3, including the Digital Angel Wings LED daytime running lights, the illuminated grille, and the signature vertical kidney grille design. The rear of the iX3 LWB also gets the same look as the one made in Hungary. However, the China-made version features the “iX350L” badge, as well as the BMW Brilliance spelled out in Mandarin.

Pictures of the BMW iX3 LWB have yet to be revealed, but BMW China did confirm that it will be integrated with Huawei’s Harmony OS ecosystem, alongside BMW’s own Operating System X. Moreover, BMW has partnered with Alibaba for a large language model (LLM), which will see the system integrate with DeepSeek’s AI large model features.

Powering the Neue Klasse iX3 is the same sixth-generation eDrive system from BMW. It has an 800V architecture, which supports ultra-fast DC charging and comes with an 108 kWh battery pack. This then powers a pair of electric motors (one on each axle), which deliver a combined 469 PS and a whopping 645 Nm of torque.

On a full charge, BMW claims the iX3 LWB can cover more than 900 km, based on the CLTC cycle. In addition, a quick 10-minute recharge via a DC can give the iX3 at least 400 km of range to work when hooked up to a 400 kW DC charger.

The BMW iX3 LWB will officially make its public debut at the 2026 Auto China in Beijing, which is scheduled from April 24 to May 3.