The BMW XM is a car that will not go unnoticed anywhere. Its monumental dimensions and detailed design work simply for effect. BMW M GmbH gave this model as a birthday present for its 50th birthday. The BMW XM is a new interpretation of the Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) concept and is the first original creation of the BMW M division since the legendary BMW M1. It should therefore be stated at the outset that the XM is not based on any other BMW vehicle and is a separate BMW M model.
As the BMW XM jubilee model, of course, it doesn’t stop at design. The technology under the hood is decisive, and it must be recognized that the designers did not skimp here. The new BMW XM is a plug-in hybrid with a system output of up to 480 kW and a torque of 800 Nm. The drive is provided by a combination of a newly developed 4.4-liter eight-cylinder V8 gasoline engine with the most modern M TwinPower Turbo technology with an output of 360 kW and an electric motor with an output of 145 kW. Power is sent to all wheels via an eight-speed M Steptronic automatic transmission. With a curb weight of 2700 kilograms, the vehicle accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds, the maximum speed is limited to 250 km/h, in the case of the optional M Driver package up to 270 km/h. The vehicle is equipped with a battery with a capacity of 29.5 kWh, of which 25.7 kWh is used. Unfortunately, BMW still sticks to its single-phase charging with a power of only 7.4 kW, so you will have to wait almost 4.5 hours for a charge. This essentially eliminates the possibility of recharging the car during a stop on a longer route, so the overall effect of a plug-in hybrid on long journeys will only be that you carry an unnecessarily heavy battery. The manufacturer indicates the electric range at the level of 82-88 km according to WLTP, during the editorial test we managed to reach 92 km. The distinctive front part with split headlights, the backlit contour of the front mask, in our case with gold trim and large air intake kidneys, looks majestic and challenging. The side view with the belt in gold color is complemented by gold accents integrated into the front and rear of the vehicle. At the back, the body almost seamlessly flows into a flat rear window with a wiper inserted into the glass. The dynamic taillights emerge from the side profile and continue about one-quarter of the rear doors. The lower part is dominated by a split massive diffuser, framed by gold accents, and four hexagonal exhaust tips arranged on the sides one above the other.
The luxurious, driver-oriented cockpit with standard M multifunctional seats in the front and exclusive M Lounge in the back is subordinate to the design orgies. The rear seats with extended seats are more like sitting on a couch and reveal the four-seater cockpit arrangement. Heated backrests extend to the sides of the cabin and additional cushions provide a high level of luxury and comfort. A specialty is the sculpturally shaped ceiling with a three-dimensional prismatic structure and significant side lighting that evokes the atmosphere of a theater. 4-zone air conditioning is standard equipment. In our case, the sound system was an optional high-end Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System with ceiling speakers. The BMW IconicSounds Electric system is included as standard, which increases driving pleasure in the all-electric drive mode of the M HYBRID system. The M-specific sound was developed as part of the BMW Group’s collaboration with film composer Hans Zimmer.
The BMW XM also has the largest selection of automated driving and parking systems ever available for a BMW M model, and overall it’s one of the most equipped vehicles on the market. As standard, Driving Assistant includes collision warning, lane departure warning, avoidance assist, speed limit information, manual speed limit assist and Park Assist Plus with reverse assist and panoramic view. The optional Driving Assistant Professional adds steering and lane assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic speed limit assist, traffic light recognition and active navigation. The specific M concept with the M Hybrid button selects the driving mode, and the Setup button allows direct access to drive, chassis, steering, brake system, M xDrive and regeneration settings. With the M button on the steering wheel, you can then switch between a pair of individually compiled presets. The M Mode button enables the configuration of the displayed content and interventions of the assistance systems as desired. ROAD and SPORT settings are available.
The vehicle uses the same BMW Curved display with a pair of 12.3″ and 14.9″ displays under one curved glass as on other higher class BMWs. However, the graphics of the main OS BMW 8 menu are modified specifically for this model. It is more expressive, with sharply cut edges in the style of sloping thick strips evoking the BMW M logo. You can also find the same motif in the graphics of the head-up display. The system is compatible with the My BMW application for remote access, and the wireless integration of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is also excellent. As one of the first BMWs, the vehicle uses 5G connectivity as standard.
The BMW XM is a unique combination of design and performance, which will primarily serve to express the feeling of the highest individuality. Looking at the system performance, you probably don’t need to convince anyone that this is a specialized sports-oriented vehicle, as befits the M series. The first interesting thing you will notice is the unusual control of the automatic transmission compared to regular BMWs. You engage the D stage by moving the lever to the right, not backwards as usual. Forward and backward movement is reserved for sequential shifting, that is, if you do not use the carbon paddles under the steering wheel. Move left to shift into neutral and move left and forward to R. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s not difficult. Driving is really an experience, but despite the huge power and plug-in hybrid technology, you will have to wait a while for the maximum power to come on during sharp acceleration. The chassis is tuned quite hard and you can feel it especially on bumpy areas. On the other hand, despite the weight of 2.7 t, the car sits perfectly in corners. Excellent seats with excellent lateral guidance, with inflatable side panels, massage function, ventilation and heating also help to provide a certain feeling of driving. The sound performance inside is quite muted by excellent sound insulation and you mostly listen to the generated sounds. Personally, I don’t see much meaning in it, but “no argument against taste”, some may like it. The feeling of driving is excellent, but compared to electric cars such as the BMW iX, the feeling of acceleration is weaker. However, the BMW XM certainly has a lot to offer for petrol lovers. Consumption stabilized at 9.8 l/100 km after less than 950 km. This is the combined consumption during moderate driving, while the vehicle was fully charged only twice. This corresponds to the expected normal use of the vehicle. Of course, racing driving creations can easily ask for more than 22 l/100 km. But if you want to reduce consumption, the recipe is regular daily charging. The charger works with a power of 7.4 kW, so you will have to wait almost 4.5 hours for charging. If you have a family home and can charge overnight, that’s fine. Otherwise, you can only rely on public charging. The BMW XM is a somewhat contradictory car and raises several questions about who it is intended for, but it definitely has something to impress. Brutal performance, exclusive, even a little kitsch design, high-end processing and excellent equipment will certainly not leave many potential users cold. And if the power still wasn’t enough, the BMW XM Label Red version is also available!
The vehicle is equipped with superior assistance systems, including the automatic creation of a safety lane when driving in a convoy
TESTY:
- Consumption in the test (kWh/100 km) 2.1
- Total combined consumption (l/100 km) 9.8
- Electric range in test (km) 92
- AC charging power on 11kW 3f charger (kW) 7.2
- Charging time 10-80% (min) –
Specifications:
Manufacturer BMW, model XM, eight-cylinder gasoline engine, fuel gasoline, volume 4395 cm³, power 360 kW/5400-7200 rpm, torque 650/1600-5000 Nm, 8AT gearbox, electric motor power 145 kW, electric motor torque 280 Nm, system power 480 kW, system torque 800 Nm, fuel tank volume 69 l, battery capacity 29.5 (25.7) kWh, driven axle M xDrive, AC charging connector type Type 2, AC charging – charger power 7 .4 kW, support 3f AC charging 1f, standby weight max. 2710 kg, max. speed 250 (270) km/h, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h 4.3 s, consumption according to the manufacturer 1.6-1.5 l/100 km, electric range according to the manufacturer (WLTP) 82-88 km
PROS, CONS:
+ Exclusive design, performance, processing quality, technological equipment
– Slow charging
Model price from (with VAT): 171 450 EUR
Tested vehicle (with VAT): 187 697 EUR
Source: www.nextech.sk
