BMW has lifted the lid on the new XM - the M division’s ‘first-ever high-performance car with an electrified drive system’.
The wording here is slightly confusing, so we’ll talk you through what it all means.
First thing’s first, ‘electrified’ doesn’t mean fully-electric.
The XM has a plug-in hybrid powertrain which marries a 4.4 litre twin turbocharged V8 petrol engine with a battery and electric motor to produce a combined 653 hp and 800 Nm of torque.
Acceleration from 0-62mph goes by in just 4.3 seconds while BMW also claims an average fuel consumption of 188 mpg.
What’s more, you should be able to travel up to 55 miles using electricity alone.
What’s perhaps slightly complicated is that the XM isn’t actually the first BMW with battery power to boast an ‘M’ badge.
A quick look through ‘M’-related line-up and you’ll find M760e plug-in hybrid, the all-electric, 619 hp iX M60, and the fully-electric i4 M50, which is billed as ‘the first fully-electric M Car’.
But, as far as BMW is concerned, while that trio has plenty of power, they aren’t fully-fledged M Cars - as these BMW pages show.
So, take the BMW blurb with a pinch of salt - but also recognise that electricity is definitely leading the way when it comes to the future of performance.
The new XM is closely related to the existing X7 in terms of its size, and shares its drive concept with the newly developed endurance racing car from BMW M Motorsport - the BMW M Hybrid V8.
There’s also a white-hot ‘XM Label Red’ variant on the way - with power of 748hp and maximum torque of 1,000Nm. BMW calls it ‘the most powerful road-legal series-produced car’ in its history and which is due to be unleashed autumn 2023.
When it comes to charging the regular XM, a standard 7.4kW home wall box will replenish the battery from 0 to 100% in 4.25 hours.
You get all-wheel drive, an M Sport differential, adaptive M suspension, electromechanical roll stabilisation, rear-wheel steering and an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Launch Control as standard.
And there are various drive modes to select depending on whether you want to go hell-for-leather or to focus on energy recuperation through braking.
BMW says the design of the XM gives it a ‘muscular’ rear and a coupe-like stance, similar to the X6.
Meanwhile the cabin promises guaranteed opulence. The ‘M Lounge’ in the rear is a sea of diamond quilting and Alcantara while the interior also features a Harman Kardon Surround Sound System with 16 speakers.
The list of driver assistance systems is also comprehensive, and includes Front Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning including lane return with steering assistance, Evasion Assistant, Alertness Assistant and Speed Limit Info system including no-overtaking indicator and manual Speed Limit Assist.
The BMW XM comes at a premium, and is priced from £144,980.
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