The new BMW XM, which boasts a lofty peak power output of 480 kW courtesy of the M division’s first plug-in hybrid powertrain, will cost R3.4 million when it arrives in SA.

Earlier this year, BMW finally unveiled the new XM with great fanfare; it is the M division’s second standalone model after the M1 of the late 1970s. Then, in October, South Africans saw the plug-in hybrid performance SUV in the metal when it was exhibited at the 2022 BMW M Fest at Kyalami.

Revealed as part of the M division’s 50th-anniversary celebrations (and preceded by the BMW Concept XM), the new 5-seater high-performance SUV is scheduled to go on sale in Mzansi in the second quarter of 2023. BMW says the Spartanburg-built vehicle will appeal to “new target groups”, though promises it will still deliver a “well-resolved performance experience worthy of the M badge”.

A closer look at the BMW XM’s PHEV powertrain

This isthe M division’s first high-performance vehicle with an electrified drive system, here comprising a “high-revving”, twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine and an “exceptionally powerful” electric motor. As announced earlier, total system outputs of the vehicle at launch stand at 480 kW and 800 Nm (360 kW/650 Nm courtesy of the petrol engine and 145 kW/280 Nm from the electric gubbins, though each of the two components’ peak figures are produced at different stages).

The electric motor is integrated into the eight-speed M Steptronic transmission and benefits from a “pre-gearing stage” that increases its effective maximum torque to 450 Nm at the transmission input. Drive is sent to all four wheels through a rear-biased all-wheel-drive system. Thanks in part to the immediate response of the electric motor and the grip offered by the all-paw arrangement, the XM will sprint from standstill to 100 kph in a claimed 4.3 seconds. Top speed comes in at 250 kph, though this figure can be raised to 270 kph by selecting the optional M Driver’s Package.

When the driver isn’t chasing acceleration times, the XM offers an all-electric mode with a claimed range of up to 88 km (though cruising speed in this setting is limited to 140 kph). The high-voltage lithium-ion battery pack mounted in the vehicle’s underbody has a gross capacity of 25.7 kWh, while the combined charging unit enables AC charging at speeds up to 7.4 kW.

Just how large (and heavy) is the new BMW XM?

The hefty SUV measures 5 110 mm long, 2 005 mm wide and stands 1 755 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 3 105 mm. For reference, that makes it a little smaller than the X7.

Ground clearance comes in at 220 mm, while the listed luggage capacity figures range from 527 to 1 820 litres, depending on the configuration of the seats. If you’re wondering just how heavy the XM is, BMW lists an unladen weight of up to 2 785 kg (for the record, that’s 110 kg more than the larger X7 M60i xDrive).

As standard, the electrified SUV is fitted with 21-inch wheels, while alloys measuring up to 23 inches in diameter will also be optionally available. Adaptive suspension ships standard, including electronically controlled dampers and 48V active roll stabilisation. The XM is also the first M model to feature integral active steering, while M Sport brakes (with a pair of pedal-feel settings) are also included.

A peekinside the cabin of the new BMW XM

Inside, BMW says the cockpit and front seats are designed “entirely around an active driving experience”. The curved display (formed by a 12.3-inch information monitor and a control display with a screen diagonal of 14.9 inches) as well as the head-up display, for instance, come with M-specific graphics, including shift lights.

The headlining, meanwhile, takes on a three-dimensional prism structure, complete with 100 LED units for illumination. BMW offers a choice of four different trims for customising the interior, as well as a new “vintage leather” for the upper sections of the instrument panel and door panels.

Ambient lighting, 4-zone automatic climate control and a Harman Kardon surround sound system are all standard features, while the options list includes items such as a Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround sound system with a 1 500-watt amplifier and four additional speakers in the roof.

But wait, there’s more: a 550 kW BMW XM Label Red is coming

If the “standard” output of 480 kW isn’t quite enough for you, we have good news for you: BMW says it will launch the XM Label Red in 2023. This model will arrive as the most powerful road-legal series-produced car in the history of BMW M, offering system outputs of 550 kW and 1 000 Nm.