BMW has unveiled the Concept XM, the German marque’s most powerful car to date, and one which previews the firm’s first electrified ‘M’ model.
The production model is set to arrive at the end of next year, and it will also be the first time BMW M will have a standalone model since the M1. But though that was a supercar, the XM will instead be an SUV, with the firm confirming it will be available in ‘plug-in hybrid form only’, which also makes it the brand’s first performance ‘M’ model to be electrified.
Combining together the brand’s famed 4.4-litre V8 engine with a newly-developed M electrical system, BMW says it will produce a huge 740bhp and 1,000Nm of torque, also making it the brand’s most powerful car to date. Said to ‘point the way for the future of the brand’, the XM is also able to travel on electric for up to 50 miles.
While it’s not known how much of the concept’s design will make production, the XM looks to continue with BMW’s ongoing radical styling, which the firm says allows for ‘maximum presence’. With a vast grille and split headlights, it certainly stands out, while the sheer size of the XM looks to be on par with BMW’s largest X7.
Inside, BMW says there is a ‘distinctive M interpretation of a driver-focused cockpit design’, with the XM featuring the same curved screen layout as that found in the new iX, while the brown vintage-look leather gives the model a luxurious feel, contrasting with a decorative surface made from carbon fibre with interwoven copper thread.
Meanwhile in the rear, BMW is aiming to create a ‘lounge’ for passengers, with the XM even featuring an illuminated headliner, which is a touch only typically found in Rolls-Royce’s models.
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