BMW has a lot of M cars, but actual standalone ones… well, there was only one – the M1, from 1978. Nearly 45 years later, and we’re finally getting another standalone M car. This is the BMW XM, and… wait a minute – it’s an SUV?
Yes – the second standalone BMW M car is an SUV, and a huge one at that. The BMW XM’s dimensions are nearly the size of the seven-seater X7. And that’s not the only shocking part (no pun intended) about the car.
That’s because the BMW XM is also electrified – making it the first-ever hybrid-powered M-badged car. Underneath the bonnet is a 4.4-litre V8 turbocharged engine, with an electric motor sandwiched between the engine and eight-speed automatic transmission, to make a total of 653 hp and 800 Nm of torque.
The power is sent to all four wheels via an M xDrive all-wheel drive system and that was tuned specifically for the model. In terms of performance numbers, the mega behemoth of an SUV drives from a standstill to 100 km/h in just 4.3 seconds, while the 29.5 kWh battery pack offers a fully-electric range of 88 km, up to speeds of 140 km/h.
Of course, this being an M car, they didn’t just slap an M badge on a powerful SUV and called it a day. To help keep the size and weight in check while cornering, the BMW XM also gets a 48V active roll stabilisation system specifically tuned for the SUV, alongside rear-wheel steering.
So then, all that’s left is looks. If you can get over its loud persona, especially with its humongous and highlighted kidney grilles, then there could be a gem waiting to be discovered. Order books for the BMW XM is now open, at an estimated price of RM1.4 million. But before you click on the “place order” button, check out the video above for a closer look.
Keyword: Video: BMW XM V8 hybrid standalone M Car, open for booking in Malaysia – est. RM1.4m