The BMW XM debuted late last month, becoming the second M-specific model ever launched. It’s a big departure from the 1978 BMW M1, with a new video from YouTube channel rsDrive offering a quick presentation that highlights the SUV’s bold styling features.
Like other recent BMW models, the XM adopts a split-headlamp design. The BMW X7 and 7 Series feature the same styling cue, separating the functional light clusters from the design-oriented daytime running lights. This gives designers more freedom to sculpt unique looking front fascias.
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The gold accents around the grille stand out against the black, with the gold XM badging catching the eye. BMW didn’t give the SUV a prominent grille, with a large lower opening taking up the bumper. Gold trim wraps around the top of the daylight opening, connecting with a bold gold accent that runs down its sides, extending into the fenders and encompassing the badges.
At the rear, the video shows the SUV’s taillights protruding from the rear of the vehicle. The hatch does not have a BMW roundel, but instead bears an off-center model badge. The busy diffuser, with gold accents, houses the four stacked tailpipes.
There’s a brief glimpse of the interior, which captures the display covering the dashboard that runs on BMW’s iDrive8 infotainment software. BMW has toned down the interior compared to the Concept XM, but it’s still packed with luxurious materials, the latest technology and a wide range of driver assistance systems.
One thing the video can’t show us is the powertrain. The XM uses BMW’s S68 engine, the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with mild-hybrid technology. Total system output is 664 horsepower (488 kilowatts) and 590 pound-feet (800 Newton-meters) of torque. This can help propel the SUV to 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) in 4.3 seconds. It can reach 166 mph (270 km/h) with the M Driver’s Package. Otherwise, BMW limits its top speed to 155 mph (255 km/h).
The BMW XM will go into production later this year, and a more powerful version will start rolling off the assembly line in mid-2023. It will have over 735 hp (540 kW) and 735 lb-ft (996 Nm) of torque. The XM will start at $159,995.