The BMW Group is gearing up to launch three new cars in India on July 24, 2024. This includes the much-awaited 5 Series in its long wheelbase guise as well as new generations of the Cooper S and Countryman Electric from Mini. Bookings for all three cars are already underway online or at authorised dealerships. Here’s what to expect from each.
BMW 5 Series LWB
This will be the first 5 Series offered in long-wheelbase form in India, and it will directly take on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The new-gen 5 Series will not only replace the old 5 Series but also the 6 Series GT. Measuring 5,175mm long, 1,900mm wide and 1,520mm tall, with a wheelbase of 3,105mm, it will be the largest car in its segment, larger than even the upcoming E-Class LWB that’ll launch later this year. At launch, the new 5 Series will only be offered in 530Li M Sport guise, although the exact specs and technical details are yet to be revealed. With its repositioning, we expect it will be more expensive than even the current 6 Series GT that's priced between Rs 73.5 lakh and Rs 78.9 lakh.
Mini Cooper S
Mini will launch the new-gen Cooper S hatchback with a petrol powertrain first, and the all-electric SE version will join the line-up later this year. The new Cooper S builds on Mini’s familiar design themes with circular headlights, a new and larger octagonal front grille, and triangular tail-lamps. Its interior design still echoes a retro-cool theme, with the talking point being its one-of-a-kind circular 9.4-inch OLED infotainment screen developed with Samsung. Powering the new Cooper S will be the same 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine as its predecessor, but in a higher state of tune—it now puts out 204hp and 300Nm of torque, an increase of 26hp and 20Nm. The power is fed to the front wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. The outgoing Cooper S is priced at Rs 42.70 lakh (ex-showroom), and the new model is expected to be slightly more expensive.
Mini Countryman Electric
The new-gen Countryman Electric shares its underpinnings with the BMW iX1, which will be one of its rivals upon launch. Compared to the outgoing petrol Countryman, the electric version has grown in size, which has resulted in an extra 130mm of legroom in the back. The design updates are in line with the new Cooper S, and the interior is also largely shared between both models. Mini offers the Countryman Electric with two powertrain options overseas – a single-motor, front-wheel-drive version with 204hp and 250Nm, and a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive version with 313hp and 494Nm. It is yet to be seen which of these two will be offered here. Both feature a 66.45kWh battery, and the single abd dual-motor versions have claimed ranges of 462km and 433km, respectively. The petrol-powered Mini Countryman currently starts at Rs 48.10 lakh (ex-showroom), however, the all-electric new-gen is expected to carry a higher price tag.
BMW CE 04 electric scooter
These three cars aside, BMW will also launch the CE 04 electric scooter that’s powered by an 8.9kWh battery and has a claimed range of 130km. Its motor generates a peak output of 31kW, which can propel the scooter from 0-50kph in a claimed 2.6 seconds and to a top speed of 120kph. The CE 04 gets features like three ride modes, traction control, ABS, a TFT display with Bluetooth connectivity for navigation, and more. The overall design looks futuristic and features distinct design elements and an unconventional bodywork.
Also See:
BMW 5 Series LWB walkaround video