BMW has revealed the Concept XM, featuring a provocative new design language. It previews a showroom model of the same name, set to be the first standalone BMW M vehicle since the legendary M1. The BMW XM will go into production in late 2022, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the BMW M division.
Dramatic BMW XM styling
We're a bit speechless, to be honest. Just when you thought BMW couldn't push its kidney grille design into any more controversial territory, it does just that. So no, the XM doesn't get the slender and upright style that the 4 Series and new BMW iX have, but the concept's design is no less contentious, sitting high up the towering nose. The octagonal openings are tall and especially wide, and they're emphasised by integrated illumination. Within are the characteristic double bars of current M vehicles, and the XM badge.
Flanking the dramatic new take on the kidney grille is an equally new lighting arrangement. The upper element holds the LED daytime running lights, styled in a way that is reminiscent of BMW's traditional double-headlight look. The actual headlights, however, are mounted lower down and are almost concealed in the dark detailing of the Concept XM.
Spy photos suggest that the all-new BMW 7 Series, due to be launched in 2022 before the production-ready XM hots the market, will adopt this layout, in a bid to visually break up the otherwise bluff front end, we assume. The Concept XM does that with sharply drawn air intakes at the extremities of the front bumper, complemented by vents in the huge clamshell bonnet above.
The side view of the XM is no less remarkable, and there's a lot to unpack. The wheels are 23-inch items and have 'BMW' script at their centres rather than the traditional badge. Meanwhile, a thick dark line is drawn from the daytime running lights up front to what would usually be a Hofmeister kink, though the side glass itself is quite shallow. The door handles are hidden, and the side bulk is reduced by the style of the side sills and the subtle two-tone paint effect. The muscular wheelarches are vertically cut off and then feature dark contrasting extensions to vaguely link the style to that of the BMW iX, though the XM gets an elongated rear overhang and a completely unique back end.
A central ridge in the roof begins between the slimline LED searchlights mounted above the windscreen and gets deeper towards the back to the car to form unusual buttresses around which the tailgate glass is shaped. Just in case we didn't notice the M1 reference there's a BMW roundel laser-etched into the glass on each side. That's about the only retro cue, however. The XM's rear lights strip out the LED detail found in BMW's other cars and are then super-sized, emphasising the pertness of the hatchback and the height of the rear bumper. This in itself features a new take on the traditional M quad exhaust setup, with a chunky aerodynamic diffuser between.
Theatrical and high-tech interior design
And if you thought the exterior of the Concept XM requires a little recalibration of your senses, wait until you browse through our image gallery and set your eyes on the cabin. Up front, it's relatively restrained and encouragingly doesn't look too far away from showroom-ready. The iX's curved glass display has been employed, with unique graphics and menus of course. The XM's steering wheel doesn't follow the lead of the iX's octagonal item, however. Like the front seats, it's trimmed in brown vintage leather.
This contrasts with the high-tech carbon fibre elements that have copper thread woven into them and a few red accents to remind us that we're in a BMW M car. Somewhat surprisingly (but we're happy to see it), there are physical controls for the air conditioning and heating and what looks like lots of storage in the centre console.
And then you see the rear... BMW calls it the M Lounge and if features 'petrol'-coloured velvet upholstery with diamond quilting and deep-pile carpet in another eye-catching green colour. Complementing all that is a new three-dimensional headliner with special illumination.
First-ever hybrid BMW M car
Now that you're dazzled and no doubt dumbfounded by the exterior and interior, it's probably a good time to mention that the XM will be the first ever electrified BMW M car. Using a V8 petrol engine and an electric motor, BMW says it will produce up to 750hp and an incredible 1,000Nm of torque and that the XM will only be available as a plug-in hybrid and only as an M model. I.e. there will be no diesel SE version of this car. The only other stat released so far is that the XM will have the capability to travel up to 80km on zero-emissions battery power.
That could be useful for driving by unnoticed...