2023 BMW XM flagship SUV arrives as first standalone M-model in decades

by Fazeen Abdeen. January 2, 2023.

BMW’s M division has not had a standalone model since the M1 Supercar from the ‘70s. Now they do, and it is the complete opposite of the M1. It is big, it is an SUV, it is electrified and the design can easily start a debate at even the most sedate coffee-table gatherings. Here is the 2023 BMW XM.

BMW XM Design

If you thought the split headlights on the new BMW X7 and & 7-Series or the massive nostrils on the M3 & M4 are polarising, wait till you see the XM. The flagship SUV flaunts a bold, edgy design, which is quite good for starting a war on Twitter. But there is no denying the fact that the BMW XM will stand out in a crowd, and people will turn their heads to take a second glance. Those massive front end, narrow tail lamps, and the huge 23-inch optional alloy wheels will scream for attention.

Interior

In the BMW portfolio, the BMW XM hovers over all their premium SUVs, even the X5/X6 M Competitions and the X7 M60i. So, luxury is at its peak inside the XM. The interior design is far from the futuristic concept, but it is edgy nevertheless. There is a combination of Vintage Coffee Merino Leather and Soft Nappa leather for the interior. The headliner flaunts more than 100 LEDs for some fancy light effects. It also features the latest iDrive8 and a huge list of Driver Assistance features.

BMW XM Engine specifications

Peel off the controversial skin of the BMW XM, and you can find BMW’s 4.4-litre twin-turbo S68 V8 engine with mild-hybrid support. An electric motor is integrated into the transmission, which is an 8-speed automatic. Combing these, the total power output is 644 hp and the peak torque is 800 Nm. This propels this futuristic mammoth from 0 to 100 kph in 4.3 seconds.

And that is not the end of the story. Next year, there will be an even more powerful, more expensive BMW XM Label Red edition with 735 hp and nearly 1000 Nm.

The battery pack measures 25.7 kWh, giving this plug-in-hybrid an EV-only range of 48 km as per EPA certification. In Europe, the WLTP rating is 82 to 88 km.

Of course, being BMW’s flagship SUV, there is always a price to pay for all this. The base price starts from $159,000 (AED 584,013). The BMW XM Label Red will cost a lot more, at $185,000 (AED 679,512).