class=”sc-3778e872-0 gWjAEa”>
BMW has just unveiled revised M versions of its X5 and X6 SUV flagships. However, next to the brand new XM, the strong duo seem more like a shy couple on a first date. And no, XM is not really pretty or elegant. But it’s a bold exclamation point and shows the bewildered car world that the greatest luxury crossover of modern times does not come from Aston Martin, Lamborghini or Ferrari, or Audi, Mercedes or Porsche.
Nobody expected that the first vehicle developed by BMW’s sports department M GmbH after the spectacular M1 in 1978 would be such a combative-looking SUV. On the other hand, what can you expect: When the angular box-shaped radiator throat of the 5.11-metre-long XM is visible in the rear view mirror, other road users are frightened and leave the left lane. Because the monster SUV is not only in terms of looks, but also in terms of performance – and how!
Double boom double heart
The 4.4-liter eight-cylinder twin-turbo with 489 horsepower (360 kilowatts) is great, but it’s also backed by an electric motor that delivers 197 horsepower (145 kilowatts) more to the ring. The result is a system output of 653 hp (480 kW) and a powerful 800 Nm of torque. The fact that this luxury giant is a plug-in hybrid that can go up to 88 kilometers on all-electricity thanks to the 25.7 kWh battery in the lower body does not seem to attract the attention of the majority of customers, especially the USA, United Arab Emirates and China.
Even more exciting for this customer will be what happens when Wuchtbrumme’s accelerator pedal is fully depressed. Next, the almost 2.8-tonne all-wheel drive vehicle accelerates to 100 km/h in a crazy 4.3 seconds, and is braked theoretically only electronically at 270 km/h. The power delivery is rough, both engines don’t seem to have reduced thrust.
Noble and tough
However, the chassis is as polarizing as the looks and acceleration. Even in comfort mode, the XM seems very hard-tuned – bumps, potholes or ruts in the road very distinctly transfer the big wheels, ambience and rendering quality to the otherwise best interior. Thanks to its 3.11-metre wheelbase, the XM can also shine in the cargo area, holding 527 to 1820 liters in the second row and behind the e-loading hatch.
They make up for the lack of optional 23-inch wheels (22 as standard) on long journeys on winding country roads: the XM steers like a sports car, roll stabilization prevents almost any tilting tendency, four-wheel steering adds additional dynamics in the border region, in addition to city maneuverability. provides. With such agility, the standard consumption of just 1.5 l/100 km seems almost surreal, and the rough noise from the four-pipe exhaust system doesn’t quite match it. But if the battery is empty, the consumption should reach spheres higher than 10 l/100 km.
Red Label is getting stronger
If the standard XM, which costs at least 181,900 francs, isn’t brutal enough yet, you’ll have to wait until next year. That’s when BMW M launches the Red Label Edition. In addition to other equipment details, the special model gets a generous performance boost of up to an impressive 748 hp (550 kW) and a massive 1000 Nm! Sprinting to Prestige 100km/h should be even faster, while the top speed should be headed towards 300km/h.
Source: Blick
I’m Ella Sammie, author specializing in the Technology sector. I have been writing for 24 Instatnt News since 2020, and am passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments in this ever-changing industry.
