BMW has showcased a high-performance concept vehicle that offers a preview of an upcoming electrified SUV, the XM.
Set to go into production late next year in the U.S.—its most important sales market—the new SUV will be available exclusively as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle under the BMW’s “M” performance division, an official statement said.
The new XM carries design elements inspired by the original M car and is the second stand-alone M model from BMW (after the M1 of 1978).
Powering the car will be a high-performance 750hp plug-in hybrid powertrain with a 4.4-litre petrol V8, and is what the company calls “the most powerful BMW M car ever to go into series production”. It gets a battery making over 20kWh, offering an electric-only range of up to 50 miles.
“The BMW Concept XM represents a complete reimagining of the high-performance vehicle segment,” BMW M CEO Franciscus van Meel said in a release. “It underlines the ability of BMW M GmbH to break with established conventions and push boundaries in order to offer fans of the brand the ultimate driving experience.”
In terms of design, the German carmaker said the show car’s front end reveals the design direction for its future luxury models. At the front are two large kidney grilles with slim headlights, and the XM sports more aggressive lines than those seen on other BMW models.
The XM sits on massive 14-spoke, 23-inch wheels—the biggest seen on any BMW—while the rear bumper gets triangular quad-exhaust tips. The slim LED tail-lights extend onto the rear fenders, with a unique wedge-shaped design for the rear glass. On the glass are two BMW roundels—a design harking back to the badges on the M1’s flying buttresses.
On the inside, the high-performance XM SUV gets vintage-look brown leather with copper and carbon fiber accents as well as a large digital information and command center. At the rear, there’s a diamond-stitched, velvet bench seat.
The production of the XM will begin at BWM’s plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina by late 2022.
Images: BMW
