BMW XM is a new model for the BMW lineup and is slated to go into production at the end of 2022 and appear in showrooms in early 2023. After nearly five years of rumors and speculations of an SUV above the X7, BMW Group has confirmed that it will launch the BMW XM this year. In 2021, the company unveiled the BMW Concept XM, offering the public a glimpse of the car’s design and features. The car evoked a mixed public response, but there is an anticipation for its release among premium SUV customers. Take a look at what we know so far about BMW’s future performance SUV flagship.
- Top-end BMW XM ‘Label’ could cost upwards of USD 150,000 in the U.S.
- New flagship BMW SUV to be a plug-in hybrid-exclusive model
- Will look like no other BMW on the market
- World premiere scheduled on September 27, 2022, at 6:01 PM EST
5 POWERFUL FACTS:
- Radical new vehicle concept
- Preview of the most powerful BMW M car ever to go into series production
- Newly developed M Hybrid drive system with up to 550 kW (750 hp)
- All-electric range of up to 80 km
- All-new form of luxury and sense of space for the interior
BMW XM SUV 2023
Like the iconic BMW M1, the BMW XM will have a special place in the company’s history. It will be the first standalone M SUV from the German automaker. The reason why the first bespoke BMW M model was a sports car but the second model will be an SUV is that times have changed.
BMW M CEO Frank van Meel told at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2022 (May 20-22, 2022) that in the time of the M1, every automaker who wanted to build “something special” made a sports car. Today, the biggest and most important vehicle segment in terms of existing and potential sales volume is SUV. That’s why the “ultimate expressive luxury flagship” of the BMW M portfolio will be an SUV, van Meel explained.
BMW XM Concept
Extroverted. Expressionistic. A radically new concept that refuses to back down. Experience the BMW Concept XM: an electrified high-performance luxury vehicle unlike anything you’ve ever seen.
BMW XM Exterior
The BMW XM is a new and stunning departure from the traditional BMW SUV. The car is designed for customers who are bold, outgoing, and wish to go down a road less traveled.
Image Source: BMW USA
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The giant kidney grille, split headlights, boldly sculpted hood with huge power bulges, aggressive bumpers, super-slim and boldly L-shaped rear lights, and the dual-branch, vertically arranged, hexagonal-shaped, quad tailpipes give a monstrous appearance to the BMW XM.
Illuminated Kidney Grille
The Concept XM’s kidney grille is an illuminated piece that tapers towards the outer edges and makes a near-octagonal outline. The black elements of this grille, enclosed within an intricate surround, seem almost as if they are floating freely within a High-gloss Black surface. M-style double bars within the grille accentuate the width of the large SUV. If all this isn’t enough to make an onlooker get an idea of the model name, there’s an XM logo in the kidney grille to say the name.
Special Exhaust System
The special exhaust system used in the concept, in addition to producing a rich exhaust note, reduces backpressure for the V8 engine. The sloping roofline and the sleek window graphic that narrows towards the rear lend it the highly aerodynamic styling of an SUV-coupe. Another exterior highlight is the unique positioning of the BMW logo at the rear, laser-etched into the back glass below each of the two cant rails. That’s a BMW M1-inspired styling cue.
Dual-tone Color
The Concept XM carries a two-tone color scheme that accentuates its distinctive lines. The upper section of the concept model is in matt gold-bronze and the lower section is in Space Grey metallic. A broad, High-gloss Black line, which BMW calls the “black belt,” is present below the window graphic to separate the upper and lower sections with two body colors. Massive, 23-inch alloy wheels are another exterior highlight of the Concept XM, a feature that adds to its powerful and dominating character.
Spy pictures (view on theautopian.com) have almost entirely revealed the exterior of the production BMW XM. Compared to the concept, the showroom version of the BMW XM is less dramatic, but it also has a clear offbeat style. The designers obviously had to modify the exterior to pass homologation, and ensure everyday usability and safety. The final design appears to include changes like larger headlights and rear lights, a smaller kidney grille, and cleaner body panels.
The production version misses out on LED searchlights on the roof, just as expected. Simpler mirrors and conventional door handles are also among the exterior changes visible in the spy pictures. These images also help us get a clearer picture of big of a five-seat SUV the XM will be.
The production XM may also feature an illuminated grille, as an option. BMW M chief Frank van Meel had said in 2021 that there will be more models with an illuminated kidney grille, following which we saw the i7 debut with that feature. Domagoj Dukec, Head of Design, BMW, told BMWBlog in an interview in April 2022 that more BMWs will get this feature, which would help them build road presence.
Like the concept vehicle and the 2023 BMW X7, the road-ready XM should flaunt 23-inch alloy wheels. What won’t appear on the production version, spy shots have revealed, would be the iX-style flush door handles. Unlike the concept model, the production version features the convenient pull-type conventional door handles.
BMW XM Interior
In early September 2022, Reddit user silent__farter shared new spy pictures of a test mule from Malibu. One of the images showed that the interior design is close to the concept. We spot a familiar three-spoke steering wheel, a large horizontal touchscreen infotainment system, twin central AC vents placed below that central display, an electrically adjustable driver’s seat, and blue seat upholstery in this picture. Another picture showed that the XM’s lift-over height is high, although there could be a lower partition below the load floor.
Image Source: BMW USA
The interior is rather conventional in the BMW XM. Still, the design somehow has its own suave to set its image as the best upper-class BMW. The dashboard features the sleek-looking BMW Curved Display and distinctively designed three vertical AC vents in the center. A passenger grab handle connects this panel with the center console.
The base for air vents, displays, and control/operating elements is made from carbon fiber with interwoven copper thread. M-specific references include accents on the steering wheel and center console and each of the three BMW M colors used as accents on the central AC vents in the front. One of the spy pictures that we mentioned in the ‘Exterior’ section has revealed that the production XM will have a typical BMW M steering wheel with red ‘M1’ and ‘M2’ drive mode paddles.
Most of the cockpit area features warm brown color, while the rear features a rich shade called ‘Petrol.’ The diamond-shaped area of the headrests is leather-trimmed, while the lower sections of the seats feature luxurious velvet upholstery and diamond quilting. A headliner with a 3D prism structure is another design highlight on the inside. One more noteworthy visual highlight of the interior is the ambient lighting, which is activatable in the three BMW colors.
Powertrain & Performance of BMW XM
The XM will be the first electrified BMW M high-performance model, and it will be available exclusively as an M Hybrid (electrified) vehicle.
BMW has revealed that the production XM’s plug-in hybrid system will deliver 644 hp and 800 Nm (590 lb.-ft.) of torque. The xDrive AWD system will be standard, while the transmission would be the 8-speed automatic borrowed from the X7. With such a powerhouse under the skin, calling it the BMW XM is befitting.
BMW is expecting the plug-in hybrid SUV’s pure electric range to be 88 km (55 miles) as per WLTP. The EPA-est. figure could be lower, probably around 30 miles. Consider the case of the X5 xDrive45e, for instance, which has a WLTP rating of 88 km (55 miles) in Europe but only manages an EPA-est. rating of 31 miles in the U.S.
The XM will need all the power it can extract from the plug-in hybrid system and all the weight reduction measures BMW has available for commercialization. Christoph Fagschlunger has confirmed to carsales that the XM plug-in hybrid will be heavier than the seventh-gen 7 Series, including the first-ever i7 that weighs 2,715 kg or 5,986 lbs. (unladen, EU). Fagschlunger is the chief engineer of the Mk7 7 Series.
BMW XM Specs
| Aspect | BMW XM Specifications |
| Wheelbase | 122.2 Inch |
| Wheel Size | 23 Inch |
| Curb weight | 2300 Kg |
| Drivetrain | AWD |
| Powertrain | Gasoline Plug-in Hybrid Electric (front engine + rear motor) |
| Engine | 4.4L twin-turbo V8 gasoline |
| Motor Power | 194 HP |
| Motor Torque | 450 Nm (332 lb.-ft.) |
| Battery | 25 kWh |
| Charging power | 7.4 kW (AC) |
| System Power | 644 HP |
| System Torque | 800 Nm (590 lb.-ft.) |
| 0-60 mph Acceleration | 3.2 Seconds |
| Electric range | 30 miles (estimated on the EPA cycle) |
| Transmission | 8-speed Automatic |
Previous reports suggest that the XM could gain a Competition variant at a later stage, with an upgraded plug-in hybrid system that delivers a system output of up to 552 kW (750 PS/740 hp). Moreover, there’s a rumor of a more basic plug-in hybrid variant called ‘XM 50e’ as well, as per a report BMW Blog published on September 4, 2022. This variant could use a straight-six engine instead of a V8. It is unlikely to be available in the U.S., though.
BMW XM Features
From the BMW Laserlight headlights that provide visibility of about half a mile to the BMW iDrive 8 (BMW iDrive with BMW Operating System 8) that offers a whole new user experience and design, the XM should pack the best of the best features BMW has to offer. According to another report from BMWBlog, the wheel sizes will range from 21 to 23 inches, a rear differential will be standard, carbon-fiber trim will be available, and sport brakes will be available in dark blue, black, and red color options.
M Lounge
The XM offers a dynamic driving experience for those up front, while those in the back can enjoy a high level of comfort in the ‘M Lounge.’ This section of the cabin is designed for relaxation, with plenty of space and luxurious soft seats.
Infotainment
The infotainment system setup in the XM will be very similar to other latest BMWs. However, BMW XM Project Head Sven Ritter has told YouTube channel Joe Achilles that the XM’s unit will have additional settings, like energy recovery, for instance. Plus, with the chassis buttons they’ll adjust more than they do in a regular BMW M model, thanks to the 48-volt anti-roll system.
ADAS
In the middle of 2023, BMW will introduce a self-driving assist feature in the XM, as per the report. The company is working to introduce Level 3 autonomous driving in 2022 on the iX, and models such as the XM should inherit it sooner or later. Currently, it offers Level 2 in the iX.
BMW XM Production & Release Date
Production of the BMW XM will take place at the company’s Spartanburg plant in the USA. According to Bimmerpost forum member ynguldyn, who seems to have insider information about BMW Group’s future models, production will start in December 2022.
The new flagship BMW SUV will debut on September 27, 2022, at 6:01 PM EST. BMW Group says that the United States will be its most important sales market, followed by China and the Middle East.
While some take it as an Audi Q8 challenger, the BMW XM is the Bavarian’s answer to the Range Rover Autobiography and Bentley Bentayga. BMW’s former head of development, Klaus Frohlich, had told Autocar in 2018 that a product such as the XM certainly has a market in places where this segment was growing fast.
BMW XM Price
According to the BMW Blog report dated September 4, 2022, the top-end BMW XM trim will be called ‘Label.’ In Europe, the XM Label is rumored to have a circa-EUR 190,000 (~USD 190,000) price tag. The U.S. price of the XM Label will likely be lower, though. There’s no word on the price of the base XM in the U.S. yet, but we think that figure could be around USD 120,000. The XM may come in several familiar colors as well as some unique colors, including Cape York Green, as per the report.
BMW XM FAQs
What is the BMW XM release date?
The BMW XM will debut in production form on September 27, 2022. U.S. customer deliveries should commence in early 2023.
What are the rivals to the BMW XM?
The Range Rover Hybrid and Bentley Bentayga are key rivals of the future BMW SUV.
What is the expected price of the BMW XM?
The BMW XM should have a starting price of around USD 120,000.
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