India, Sept. 11 -- The electric iX1 has been a quiet sensation for BMW in India. Stretched for extra legroom and priced sharply, it ran away with the luxury EV market almost as soon as it landed. Now, BMW is betting the same trick will work with petrol power. Enter the X1 Long Wheelbase, a stretched version of its smallest SUV, aimed at buyers who spend more time being driven than driving and don't want to be slaves to a plug.

The stretch is cleverly disguised. The X1 LWB is longer than the regular car, with nearly all of that gain going between the wheels. Squint and you could mistake it for the standard X1: The same sharp headlamps, sporty M Sport styling and angular tail-lamps. A chrome window surround and 18-inch wheels round things ...