BMW XM A WHOLE NEW CHAPTER

In the annals of automotive history, there are few that can rival BMW’s mastery of the car maker’s art. For generations, the German legend has set the standard in engineering, design, comfort, and technology, to say nothing of seamlessly melding form and function into an unparalleled driving experience.

The price for such consistent innovation is high; BMW resides in an elite class where having to constantly improve and surpass the triumphs of the past is a standard, yet daunting, expectation. But as the jaw-dropping XM proves, the company is more than up to the challenge of amazing and delighting even the most discriminating enthusiasts.

“This vehicle is a statement piece. It’s bold, it stands out,” said Daniel Schwartz, client adviser with ONYX Automotive. “The client that drives this wants to be seen, wants to be a little bit different, doesn’t want to have the same vehicle as everyone else. And the XM really emphasizes that point very well.”

The revolutionary elements of the XM high-performance SUV are here for all to see—the hybrid electric power plant, the radical and aggressive body styling, and the signature illuminated kidney grille. There’s more here, however, than meets the eye. Interfusing raw power and futuristic technology without sacrificing luxury and comfort is no small feat, but the XM pulls it off beautifully and in so doing signals a radical new shift in the automotive universe.

“The cool thing about this car is it’s the first car since the ‘70s where the M Division, which is the motor sports division of BMW, has gotten to design it from the ground up,” Schwartz said. “Everything from the drivetrain to the body to the transmission, therefore, is a true M car. At the same time, its unlike anything BMW has ever produced.”

Performance has always come first with BMW, and the XM is no exception. Under the hood lurks a 4.4-liter BMW M TwinPower Turbo V-8 engine paired with a high-performance electric motor. The engine delivers 644 maximum horsepower and 590 ft-lbs of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in a scant 4.2 seconds, yet remains remarkably quick enough to out-maneuver the few things it can’t outrun.

The electric motor is particularly impressive. Even with the performance demands and all the onboard hardware to support, it still delivers up to 30 miles on pure electric juice.

“They’ve really married the hybrid drivetrain system with the big V8 4x4 liter very, very well,” said Schwartz, who estimated bone-dry-to-full-bars charging time at about three hours. “It’s 644 horsepower, so it gives you the boost you need. And if you don’t want the exhaust for some reason, you can run on pure electric mode. It’s a perfect blend of both worlds.”

Channeling power with precision is another testament to BMW’s engineering chops, and the XM doesn’t disappoint thanks to standard Adaptive M Suspension Professional, an M Sport Differential, and the intelligent all-wheel-drive power of M xDrive.

You don’t house that much good stuff in a plain brown wrapper, and the mad geniuses behind the XM have come up with external styling radical enough to match its guts. While much of the discussion online and in car magazines has focused on the menacing new face, there are plenty of other touches here—from the color scheme to the huge 23-inch wheels to the first-ever vertical quad exhaust—that make it impossible for XM owners to maintain a low profile.

The artistry continues in the cabin, which provides a feast for the senses of both driver and passengers, starting with the sprawling high-resolution curved dashboard display. The panoramic screen stretches across two-thirds of the dash, allowing easy identification of digital gauges and infotainment controls. In engineering the groundbreaking display, designers crafted a critical piece of technology that looks like art and functions like the command center it is. Powered by iDrive 8 Operating System, perks like Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility come standard.

“The cool thing with BMW is their mindset is very driver-centered,” Schwartz said. “As you sit in the driver’s seat, everything is centered around you. The screens are angled more towards your field of vision. They’re set in a way where you don’t have to look down as far as you do with some other makes and models.”

Other next-level technological amenities include an available Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System with 20 speakers providing 1,475 watts of power and the standard Parking Assistant Plus and Active Driving Assistant Professional that provides smart features like frontal collision warning, active blind spot detection, lane departure warning, and speed limit information. You can even do a status check of the vehicle from anywhere, thanks to the My BMW app.

Fitting that much technology into a confined space could have resulted in a cold, robotic interior, but such is not the case with the XM. BMW balances the environment with the warmth of sumptuous leather and a spectacularly sculptured ceiling reflecting soothing ambient fiberoptic lighting.

As much as the XM package amazes, the ultra-exclusive Label Red model blows the mind, thanks to 748 horses and 738 ftlbs of torque that clocks 0-60 mph in less than four seconds, the most unapologetically powerful M model ever built.

Schwartz predicts that for all the wowfactor punch of the current bad boys of the M Class, this is only the beginning. And while it’s hard to imagine what the company could do to top such a vehicle, that’s what they said before the XM.

“This shows that BMW’s mindset is open to different market segments and to expanding, where a lot of automotive manufacturers, especially post-COVID, have been trying to focus in on what their market share is and just keep making vehicles like they always have,” he said.

“BMW has shown it will spend the money and the time and the effort to develop something new and something unique. And the XM is definitely all of that and more.”

For more information on the BMW XM, visit onyxautomotive.com.

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