Some might say that the traditional and widely accepted BMW design language has changed. They’re not wrong.
While it varies from person to person whether or not this change is good or bad, there has been a noticeable shift in the overall design of the majority of modern BMWs. From the i7 to the G82 M4, the new look of many BMWs of late has left a sour taste in many a mouth, and the BMW XM concept was a particularly noteworthy eyebrow raiser.
“The BMW Concept XM represents a complete re-imagining of the high-performance car segment. It underlines the ability of BMW M GmbH to break with established conventions and push boundaries to offer fans of the brand the ultimate driving experience.” – Frank van Meel, CEO of BMW M GmbH
The XM Concept rattled many cages with its enlarged kidney grilles, tiny headlights, sharp body lines, eccentric rear apron, and hybrid powertrain. The percieved interior quality seemed to be enough to rival luxury manufacturers’ such as Rolls-Royce and Bentley. BMW tried sweetening the XM by providing it with a burly hybrid powertrain comprised of a V8 and high-performance electric motor that, according to BMW, would produce 550 kW and 1 000 N.m. A development car of the XM Concept given to a select number of people had a lower output than the figures of the concept.
This XM variant will arrive in the US market sometime at the end of this year with a production car with figures corresponding to the concept’s coming sometime next year. The higher output variant will not be blessed with the esteemed “Competition” badge, according to BMW M spokesperson, Martin Schleypen. “When we talked about the concept vehicle back in December, we came up with higher numbers and we told you about 750 hp and 1 000 Newton-meters. Obviously we will stick to that, of course. Later in the production, we will bring a more powerful car to the US market”
With the XM concept, BMW promises a luxury SUV wearing a BMW M uniform, but will it be a proper M car?
