BMW XM: Luxurious Powerhouse

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the BMW M GmbH is launching its first M model with a combination of V8 gasoline engine and an electrified drive system – the BMW XM. Performance, presence and opulence are the name of the game. By Sigrid Riewe-Scholz

Understatement is not really its style. The luxury SUV immediately catches the eye with its aggressive, robust design, powerful dimensions and sharp lines. It is visually defined by the huge lit-up kidney grille with gold-colour surround, all-round contour lighting and large air intakes. Extremely narrow twin-split LED headlights round off the vehicle front. One striking design feature of the side view is an accent band in gold which frames the windows. Don’t expect modesty of the alloy wheels either, they come in 21-inch as standard and up to 23 inches (optional).

Massive, mighty and a little electric
Compared to its 1978 forefather, the BMW M GmbH‘s new flagship has entered new dimensions. Compared to the 1,300 kilo light super sportcar M1, the XM is almost 60 centimetres taller at 1.73 metres, 75 centimetres longer at 5.11 metres and almost 40 centimetres wider with a width of 2.20 metres. With a weight of around 2.7 tonnes and a possible payload of 590 kilos, the XXL SUV can just about be driven with a class-B driving licence.

The BMW XM is powered by a V8 combustion engine in combination with an electrified drive system. This plug-in hybrid delivers an overall output of 480 kW/653 PS – with the eight-cylinder engine contributing up to 360 kW/489 PS, and the electric motor up to 145 kW/197 PS. However, the paltry 80 km range of the SUV hybrid battleship’s e-motor is a little disappointing. But what makes the XM a real M? Its state-of-the art V8 engine and classic high rpm concept unleashes extreme force. The giant SUV sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds. The maximum speed with the e-motor is 140 km/h, combined with the V8 it reaches 250 km/h. Standard equipment includes an assistance system with front collision and lane departure warning, swerve assist as well as a parking assistant – all essential considering the dimensions of the vehicle. 

Upmarket for the financially solvent
The BMW XM will be produced in the BMW Group’s US American Spartanburg plant from December 2022 onward, and should go on sale worldwide in spring 2023. There is no doubt that the “next generation of the Leopard tank“, as it was described on Twitter, will find a ready market even with its base MSRP of 170,000 Euro. The key sales markets will be the USA, China and the Middle East.