BMW Brings New (And Old) Cars To Chengdu Auto Show: Video
Article Summary
- The 2026 Chengdu Auto Show runs through August 30.
- BMW is attending one of China’s biggest auto shows with a mix of next-generation and outgoing models.
- A China-only M3 special edition is also on display, celebrating 40 years of the original M3 E30.
BMW may be falling hard in China, but it’s not about to wave the white flag. With a new influx of models, the company aims to bounce back and win over customers it has lost to domestic brands. The next-generation i3 and iX3 take center stage at the Chengdu Auto Show, with longer wheelbases than what most of the world gets. The Neue Klasse EVs are displayed in multiple specifications, giving Chinese buyers plenty of configurations to choose from.
We’re surprised to see the 7 Series attending the event in its pre-facelift configuration, considering the LCI model broke cover earlier this year. In fact, the updated G70 has been in production at Dingolfing for months, yet BMW chose to display its flagship sedan without the mid-cycle revisions. Similarly, the X5 also belongs to the past, as it’s not the new long-wheelbase version the company has already revealed for the Chinese market.
There is one car we haven’t seen at a car show before, although it’s far from all-new. We’re talking about the M3 in the China-only 40th Anniversary Limited Edition. While the walkaround video spotlights the Touring with its Wildberry paint, there’s also a sedan available in Laguna Seca Blue. Each body style is capped at 20 units, so the special edition is likely to sell out soon.
Neue Klasse All The Things
We won’t be seeing much of the current X1 and X7 at shows because both crossovers are being reworked. The former is getting a Life Cycle Impulse in 2027, when the latter will switch to its second generation. BMW will give its compact crossover the long-wheelbase treatment once again for China and other markets. As for its full-size X model, it’s unlikely to spawn a LWB derivative. In fact, not even the ALPINA version will carry a longer wheelbase.
Speaking of facelifts, the 5 Series at the Chengdu Auto Show is also due for an LCI makeover next year. Of course, that should extend to its stretched version sold in China and other markets. BMW is showing off the gas-fueled X3 in China, and from what we’ve heard, the popular luxury crossover won’t get a facelift until 2029. Roughly around the same time, production of the M2 and M4—also featured in the video—is expected to end.
The video is a reminder that BMW is in the midst of renewing its entire lineup. The Neue Klasse i3 and iX3 look vastly different from the old guard of models standing next to them. In a relatively short timeframe, almost the entire lineup will embrace the new design.
Video: AutoWorld / YouTube
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