Test BMW XM – monster likes corners more than you might expect

Why does the BMW XM have such an extreme design?

That is indeed the biggest point of criticism. When the first pictures of the BMW XM went out into the world, a storm of criticism broke out. Critics wondered in despair what on earth they were thinking in the manufacturer’s design department when this monster took shape. Moreover, according to the critics, the M GmbH had missed the opportunity to contribute to the rise of electromobility with this aggressively styled eight-cylinder beast. At the M department, they parried the criticism with the comment that the design of the car deliberately polarizes, even provoking. Well, they succeeded quite well in that.

The BMW XM is a PHEV, so like other BMW models with such a powertrain, it has the charging socket in the front left of the nose.

The XM is not a pure electro monster, but a PHEV. Can it do something electrical?

Well, as with so many plug-in hybrids, the performance on electric power alone is not very impressive. It is of course mainly about the brand new 4.4-liter V8 that meets the Euro 7 emission standard and which is also linked to a 25.7 kWh battery and an electric motor. This technology enables the oversized SUV to cover a distance of almost 90 km electrically, with a maximum speed of 140 km/h. It can charge with 7.4 kW, so that the battery is fully charged again after approximately 4.5 hours with the right charger.

This electrified BMW certainly also has artificial sound?

Not really on the outside, but yes on the inside. Electric driving with the XM is not only emission-free, but also virtually silent. Inside, however, it’s a different story, because here the electro enthusiast can listen to so-called Iconic Sounds, which Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer has composed for BMW’s EV models. But M enthusiasts and American buyers, for whom nothing beats the sound of a thick V8, are of course not satisfied with that. They only become really happy when the sports exhaust system produces the sound of the eight cylinders from its four fist-thick pipes.

It is of course mainly about the V8 petrol engine.

So the XM will only become a real BMW M if the powertrain works in combination?

Well, you can say that. It’s hard to put into words the fireworks that set off the moment you fully depress the XM’s accelerator. Then it screams out at high revs. It is quite a difference from the low-pitched hum that used to fit the models of this brand. During our first acquaintance, the XM at least pulled out all the stops to silence the criticism. Despite its huge size and heavy weight, it takes just 4.3 seconds to accelerate from standstill to 100 km/h, and it can sprint to a maximum of 270 km/h. The impressive performance is not surprising, because this engine combination is also used in the North American IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship under the name M-Hybrid-V8. In the XM, the eight-cylinder produces 489 hp, the electric motor contributes another 197 hp. That means a system power of 653 hp, while the maximum system torque is 800 newton meters. All power goes to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission developed by M. Thanks to the electrical support, this happens almost without delay.

Is the BMW XM just a case of hard straight ahead?

Logical if you may think so, because all that power in combination with an empty weight of 2.7 tons only seems good for fast traffic light sprints. But no, the XM is more of a cornering knight than you expect. The M engineers have done everything possible to ensure that the heavy lobes also handle corners well. This is not only due to the steering rear wheels, but also to the chassis that makes the occupants spontaneously forget the generous weight. The M sport differential and the majority of horsepower going to the rear wheels allow the XM to swing its rear end playfully. However, the driver never has the feeling that the high-legged battleship is going to end up in a ditch. With the active steering, the car can be brought into line again and again without much effort.

Is the BMW XM also a real top model in terms of comfort?

To prevent the passengers in the second row from being thrown in all directions, the roll-over stabilization with 48-volt technology ensures that the XM remains balanced even during a sporty driving style. The XM has both a sporty and a luxurious character. Everything in the front has an M atmosphere, so that the driver is offered maximum driving dynamics. The red M button on the steering wheel also serves this purpose, with which you can activate self-configured adjustments for the shock absorbers, steering, transmission and engine. And for ambitious drivers, there are large shift paddles on the steering wheel. In the back of the XM, passengers find a place in a rear seat with heated side bolsters. When they lean back comfortably, they see an illuminated roof sky with a three-dimensional prism structure, a unique feature. In addition, the entire interior is finished with particularly high-quality materials. Whatever you touch and whatever angle you look at, it’s all of a very high level.

The XM is mainly for China and the US, right?

Completely correct. If you like such an XM in the Netherlands, you should not forget that you must bring a minimum of €176,000 when you go to the BMW showroom. So it remains a niche appearance, but the main markets are China and the US anyway. Amazingly, BMW expects the average age of XM buyers in China to be between 18 and 22 years old. And at M GmbH they think that the XM will attract the youngest buyers by far of all models of the brand. That is why they in the M department will not lose sleep over the large amount of criticism that the model receives. The point is that the XM will generate significant profits, and it probably will. The XM remains a very taste-sensitive device, but the combination of the V8 and an electric motor makes just as much of an impression as the driving behavior of this 2.7-tonne SUV.