BMW has announced its bespoke M SUV, the XM, that will go into production in December this year.
An M product from the ground up, the XM does not share its body with any regular, series BMW model. It’s quite different from an X5, X6 or X7.
Packing both petrol V8 and plug-in hybrid electric power, the XM will come to life as a full-blown production model, mirroring elements of the concept that was initially revealed around 10 months ago.
Check out the wild exhaust outlets!
BMW is targeting the best of the luxury SUV segment such as the Range Rover Sport, the Audi RSQ8 and even the Porsche Cayenne hybrid.
The BMW XM has been priced for Australia and will cost $297,900 before on-road costs. It’ll launch down under in the first half of 2023.
BMW says that the biggest markets for the XM will be the USA, China and the Middle East.
The 2023 BMW XM will cost nearly $300k here in Australia
Huge V8 grunt, plus 88km of electric range
BMW has decided to use its ‘S68’ 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine as the basis for the XM. This power unit makes 360kW/650Nm alone, but for the XM it will be mated with a plug-in hybrid electric system that pushes the combined outputs to 480kW/800Nm.
That puts the new XM in a similar league to rivals such as the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid that makes 500kW/900Nm, or the petrol-only Audi RSQ8 that makes 441kW/800Nm – both of which are seriously powerful SUVs.
With all that power and torque, the BMW XM can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 4.3 seconds, and while overall weight is not given, it’s expected this big unit will be well over 2000kg.
The BMW XM will compete against the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E Hybrid
The XM also features an electronically-controlled sports exhaust system and unique hexagon exhaust tips, the latter of which is a first for BMW.
But if you want to be quiet and eco-friendly, the XM will be able to drive on electric-only power for an estimated 82-88km (WLTP) thanks to a 25.7kWh battery pack mounted in the underbody. A single electric motor has been installed within the SUV’s eight-speed automatic transmission.
In typical M fashion, Sports modes are included, as well as BMW Iconic Sounds that have been curated by Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer. This is somehow incorporated with the V8 engine sound, so it will be interesting to see what sort of tune the XM will make when we get the chance to drive it.
Inside the 2023 BMW XM
BMW has given the XM specific M sports suspension that comprises a double-wishbone front axle and a five-link independent rear suspension with active roll stabilisation and electronically-controlled dampers. Rear-wheel steering is also standard.
An even hotter XM ‘red label’ variant is coming
BMW has also announced that it will be bringing a ‘label red’ edition of the XM to market that will push outputs even further to 550kW/1000Nm, making the XM one of the most powerful production SUVs on the market.
We are interested to see how the XM sounds when you drive it
The label red edition is set to arrive in the European autumn of 2023 and is claimed by BMW to be “the most powerful road-legal series-produced car in the history of BMW M”.
Exterior and interior design elements
You may have noticed from the photos that there will be some flashy gold elements on the exterior of the XM, including on the grille and side accent band. 21-inch wheels are standard for the XM, however huge 23-inch items will be available as an option.
A hybrid SUV for an electrified future
Inside, the BMW XM scores the BMW curved display screens and head-up display as well as the BMW Lounge for the rear seats.
Also standard are ambient interior lights, four-zone climate control, a Harman Kardon sound system and the option of a likely nicer-sounding Bowers & Wilkins diamond surround sound system that adds four additional speakers in the roof.
