Visitors to the BMW Passion Tour 2022 at Circuit Paul Ricard only had eyes for him. It must be said that to miss this monster 5.11 meters long and two meters wide, you had to do it on purpose. Especially in the color of the pre-series model exhibited in the paddock of the Provençal circuit, with a two-tone blue and gold finish.
Video presentation – BMW XM: the intriguing exceptional SUV
Based on the CLAR platform currently fitted to all large BMW thermal models (but also the electric i4), the XM is the second model entirely designed by BMW’s Motorsport department. The only time BMW M took on the entire development of a car was in 1978 with the M1 supercar that rivaled the best Ferraris and Lamborghinis of the time. Suffice to say that the contrast is significant with the pachydermic physique of this SUV barely shorter than an X7 (bigger than a Porsche Cayenne or even a Land Rover Range Rover).
All the finesse of the new BMW XM
Not sure that its design will be unanimous with its ostentatious details (giant golden and illuminated beans, large strips of the same finish running over the entire body), its two-stage optics and its rough-cut curves. We’ll let you judge the whole thing, but given the latest sales figures of the propeller brand in the world and the success of its recent novelties in the already controversial style, we imagine that the customers are likely to love it.
23-inch wheels in gold finish are optional
An ultra luxurious cabin
Like the exterior, the passenger compartment multiplies the intriguing and eccentric details (especially with the blue and copper combination of this pre-series copy). Special mention for the sculpted and illuminated roof liner, an element that would not shock inside a Rolls-Royce. The dashboard is somewhat reminiscent of that of the 100% electric iX with its large digital panel (12.3-inch screens on the left and 14.9-inch screens on the right), but the atmosphere is more sporty with enveloping seats and less refined ergonomics.
The large digital panel resembles that of an electric car, but the atmosphere is sportier than in the iX SUV
In the back, you feel like you’re in a futuristic sedan. The sofa-style bench seat, extraordinarily soft, is also reminiscent of that of the iX. Passengers can even wedge a small cushion behind their back (optional) and the habitability excels. Not surprising with such external dimensions, to tell the truth. The quality of the materials and leathers is fairly close to the standard of Bentley or Rolls-Royce, even if horrible hard plastics come to break the atmosphere (rear console, door pillars). BMW’s communicators assure us that these are specific points to this pre-series copy, which will be destroyed shortly after the event. “The final production version will of course avoid these details and display a much better quality in these places”, we are told. On the technology side, there is naturally the best of driving aids and other state-of-the-art refinements, from 5G connectivity to an astonishing system for recognizing prohibited overtaking zones.
The rear seats are very spacious and the bench seat is remarkably soft. The atmosphere evokes the world of ultra-luxury
A colossal mechanism
For now, the XM makes do with a single 653-hp powertrain consisting of a 489-hp 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 paired with a 197-hp electric motor. The latter is powered by electricity via batteries with a capacity of 25.7 kWh, allowing it to drive noiselessly – but with the music of Hans Zimmer – up to 88 kilometers and 140 km/h. Enough to bring the empty mass to 2,710 kg and the PTAC (total authorized weight in charge) to 3,300 kg. We are only two quintals away from the heavyweight license!
€175,000 to start
And that’s just the entry-level model: next year, the Label Red version will join the catalog with the same electric motor and the same batteries, but a V8 pushed to 585 horsepower to boost the power total to 748 horsepower. Enough to beat the Aston Martin DBX707 (707 horsepower) and even the latest Ferrari Purosangue (725 horsepower). Because yes, the XM is indeed attacking the cream of exceptional sports SUVs. With a price that will start at €175,000 in the basic version. Of course, it remains to be seen what this behemoth can do on the road. Will we be able to enjoy driving behind the wheel of a BMW M SUV weighing more than 2.7 tonnes, as powerful as it is? Answer next year.