If you live in India and you’d like to own something a little more comfortable than a BMW 3-Series, but not quite as expensive as a 5-Series, you can opt for the extended wheelbase version of the former. Unlike in China though, India’s long-wheelbase 3-Series isn’t simply known as the 3-Series LWB, but rather the ‘Gran Limousine’, which does have a pretty nice ring to it, much like the brand’s Gran Coupe or Gran Turismo monikers.
Regardless of what you call it, this longer
version of the 3-Series was stretched out in such a way where it doesn’t really
look forced – as some of these models often do. BMW managed to maintain the
car’s overall proportions while adding 11 cm in length to the
wheelbase, for a total of 2,961 mm. The overall car length is
4,829 cm, so still not quite as long as a G30 5-Series, but the
wheelbase size is comparable, to say the least (116.5 inches vs 117.1 inches).
As for specifications, you can get either
a 320 Ld Gran Limousine or a 330 Li Gran Limousine, while also choosing between
the Luxury Line trim or the M Sport First Edition, which adds the aero package,
18-inch wheels and M leather steering wheel. The model also features new
headrests at the rear, plus a new central armrest. The trunk meanwhile can
swallow up to 480 liters of whatever you need stored there.
You can buy into the 3-Series Gran
Limousine range starting from 5,150,000 rupees (US$ 70,574), while a 5-Series will
set you back a minimum of 5,600,000 rupees (US$ 76,640).