BMW’s Radical XM Super SUV Is Big News for V8 & Luxury Fans
Luxurious Hybrid M Power V8 XM is BMW M’s Fiftieth Birthday Present
BMW M celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2022 with of all things, this radical hybrid super SUV. The BMW XM was revealed in Miami, Florida this week will be sold solely as an M car.
The BMW X7 based machine gets completely unique and radical M styling, drivetrain hardware and technology.
Bespoke XM is Second Only to M1
The XM will also be the second ever bespoke model after the legendary 1978 M1. Concept XM further celebrates M’s first foray into electrified motoring with a top echelon full M model. A 750 HP high-performance plug-in hybrid built around the regular 4.4-litre M Power petrol V8, XM is out to hunt down and deal with the likes of the Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid, RS Q8 and Range Rover Sport SVR.
Based around BMW M’s biturbo V8 that produces 627 HP and 553 lb.-ft on top BMW M5 CS get-up, it works in unison with a single high-performance electric motor. That’s expected to be housed within an eight-speed automatic gearbox to drive all four wheels. At 750 HP and 735 lb.-ft, XM will be the most powerful BMW road car yet. Also expect its battery to exceed than 20 kWh for a 50-mile electric-only range.
The XM’s powertrain is certain spread across to other BMW M models including the M5 and M8, X5 M and X6 MAs part of “a step-by-step electrification of the brand.” All of them are already powered by versions of the M Power V8.
“We promised we will go electric with all our models this decade,” BMW M boss Frank van Meel explains. “We already have electric in our i4 and the iX M Performance models, but this is now the first high-performance electrified BMW M car.”
There’s Still a Very Strong Case for the V8
Van Meel also admitted that there’s still a strong future for the BMW M Power V8: “I wouldn’t say that this is the last V8,” he pointed out. “Our customers still demand V8s, so we won’t shut them off. “But to electrify the V8 allows us to keep it on the market longer. “We also cannot go fully electric just yet, because too many markets are not ready to support fully electrified cars yet. “High-performance car electric technology really needs to be pushed a bit further first anyway.
“Of course, the US is our biggest market and our customers there do not want to go electric,” van Meel added. “Americans still want a V8. “Our strongest ever 2019 US sales saw huge demand for the X5 M and X6 M. “So, our customers are still pushing for the V8. “Now we are taking a big step to go hybrid.”
XM also heeds a cry from BMW M owners to add more luxury to their performance cars. BMW design boss Domagoj Dukec calls it “an extravagant BMW M statement in the heart of the luxury segment.” The ’90% production ready’ XM introduces an angular and distinctive new M look. Its giant LED lit kidney gong is punctuated by split LED strip headlights. XM gets two-tone paint and a most dramatic LED defined rear end too.
Luxury Is the Next Big BMW M Thing
Cabin luxury is enhanced by richer materials including vintage brown leather up front and teal diamond velvet rear seats. With copper and carbon fibre trim elements. That differentiated front and rear material choice deliberately separates a sportier, driver-focused front cockpit, and a more luxurious ‘M Lounge’ rear cabin. Lucky chauffeur!
“Our customers love our cars. “But they want even more expressive luxury from them,” Frank van Meel concluded. “Luxury is the next step for us at M.” Likely to share the BMW X7’s grand dimensions, the XM concept rides on huge 23-inch alloys. It will also likely share the X7’s double-wishbone front and five-link rear suspension set-up with electronically controlled damping. And air springs plus rear-wheel steering.
Set for launch US late in 2022 launch, XM will be produced BMW’s Spartanburg US plant.
Photos: BMW