The new BMW XM is the first original model of the German manufacturer’s sports division. A car which therefore does not derive from any other previous BMW. It is also the first hybrid car in the history of the M brand. In short, a series of premiers that make this car the manifesto of what BMW’s sports division will be like in the near future. Electrification aside, XM intends to combine the best of BMW’s two souls: on the one hand the sportiness and the special character of the M3, M4 and the other M cars, on the other hand the luxury and exclusivity typical of models such as 7 and X7 series.
A combination that finds its maximum expression in the interiors, especially in the front area which speaks the same stylistic language of all the other M models, made up of a still rich presence of physical controls, married to the digital technology of the double curved screen positioned at the center of the dashboard. The rear seat area is completely different: here the environment refers to that of a lounge, with the leather upholstery of the seats that expands beyond the backrests, also covering the pillars, exponentially increasing the level of perceived quality.
The exterior of the BMW XM, on the other hand – despite its strong link with the brand’s most recent styling language, clearly visible in the large front double kidney the frame of which is illuminated by a subtle LED strip – thanks to a number of particular elements brings to mind the 1978 M1: the first true M model. The link with the late 1970s super-origin is expressed by the presence of a coloured insert on the sides, echoing the M1’s beltline, while at the rear the two BMW logos are here reinterpreted in a modern key, being screen-printed on the upper part of the rear window.
A further reference to the past is the puculiar design of the rear lighting unit, which recalls the M1’s slatted engine compartment cover. A little curiosity: the XM is the first M from BMW to abandon the traditional round exhaust tailpipes in favour of four hexagonal, vertically developed elements. These give voice to the hybrid powertrain consisting of a 4.4-litre V8 engine combined with an electric motor powered by a 25.7 kWh battery, promising 80 kilometers of electric range. System power thus reaches 653 hp for 800 Nm of torque.
