The BMW XM: The “XMplary” SUV?

“The bigger the better” we have all heard of this phrase several times in many different contexts and I believe we surely don’t disagree with the phrase. I mean anything out of the box and huge will be a good stare and irrespective of how beautiful or ugly it is, it is always worth that said stare. Now imagine something very humongous and fast at the same time, no I’m not talking about aeroplanes but the behemoths that are Super SUVs, the kind that gives you a mind-numbing torque rush. Like the BMW XM, everything about this is big and fast as promised. BMW M is best known for sports sedans like the M3 and M5. But the performance division is going in many new directions as of late, and the new 2023 XM combines many of these fresh elements in a single vehicle fitting, as this is meant to be M’s new flagship. This is an SUV that’s available exclusively as an M, the XM also introduces a new plug-in-hybrid powertrain, the first hybrid ever to wear the M badge. Not to be ignored, the XM is also the second bespoke BMW M product since the mid-engined M1 supercar of the late 1970s

Compared to several of BMW’s previous SUVs, the appearance is more geometric and intimidating. Split headlights identical to those on the X7, At the front we have the gigantic kidney grille. You also see a bold, emphasised character line running down the side that kicks up at the rear doors. The aggressive-looking tail lights wrap around the sides, and BMW logos are carved into each higher corner of the back window. The rear bumper has a sporty look thanks to the diffuser features and quad exhaust tips. And the 21-inch standard wheels compliment the SUV-ish design of the car although it also gets the option of 22 and 23-inch wheels.

The inside of this M offering is familiar, as it features the same design theme as seen on the iX and i4. The XM gets the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen running the latest iDrive 8 software, ADAS tech, ambient lighting, four-zone automatic climate control, and the Harman Kardon surround sound system. But to make it class apart BMW has given the interior a two-tone blue and brown leather colour scheme where the brown leather gives it a very “vintage” feel. The rear seating area has been devised as an ‘M Lounge’, placing more of an overt focus on occupant comfort than any M car before it. The overall feel of the car is very futuristic and outrageous, irrespective of how similar it looks to the non-M siblings it is still very different from them.

Powering the XM is a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine assisted by an electric motor mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox that sends power to all four wheels via the M xDrive system together pushing a total power output of 653hp and 800Nm. The XM can accelerate from 0-100kph in a brisk 4.3 seconds and can also run in pure EV mode for up to 80km. The luxury performance SUV comes equipped with adaptive M suspension, electronically controlled dampers and a new 48V system, which helps with rear-wheel steering and reduced body roll via active anti-roll bars.

The love for M division cars is in ample amounts among enthusiasts, and this offering is only a step in the upward direction. The fact that the XM is the first M model with a plug-in hybrid powertrain shows us that even the German car maker believes in pure gasoline engines like us, but then again the manufacturer has to hop on to the trend before it’s too late. Coming back to the XM the Car is priced at Rs 2.60 crore (ex-showroom, India) and is a very decent buy as compared to the rivals. Let us know what you think about this Outrageous offering by BMW.

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Aachit Chugh
Aachit Chugh

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