BMW will unleash the new XM Label Red on the world for the first time next week at Auto Shanghai in China, offering even more performance and an even more extrovert appearance to the target audience. It will sit in the range alongside the existing XM SUV that costs €191,645 in Ireland priced from €221,680.
All the red (and just as much black)
Although shy-and-retiring buyers of the XM Label Red (there's an oxymoron if ever I heard one) can choose to have black accents instead, the range-topper gets 'Tornado Red' stripes by default, matched by red inserts on the 21-inch wheels and unique red badging. If that's not quite enough red detailing for your liking, then be quick with your order and you may get hold of one of the 500 'limited edition' examples (as shown in our image gallery) that also have red on the massive kidney grille surround and on the aerodynamic diffuser at the back. Those are black on the regular Label Red car. Obviously.
Inside, moody black is the predominant colour, but red is used liberally to set the sporting tone. It's found in the seats that feature integrated headrests, the air vents and elsewhere including the contrast stitching (and are those XM-branded throw pillows we spy on the back seat?). A special interior trim strip is described as "Carbon Fibre satin effect" with read and blue accent threads, though the distinctively sculpted headlining is black. The same colour scheme is applied to the rear of the cabin, referred to as the "M Lounge" because the seats are designed to curve into the door panels.
All the power and torque
In Label Red guise, the XM still has a plug-in hybrid powertrain, but it gets more power and torque. The main provider is the twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine. It uses an eight-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive. Within the casing of that transmission is the car's sole electric drive motor. Peak system outputs are quoted as 748hp and 1,000Nm, significant increases of 95hp and 200Nm of torque over the standard car's, respectively. So-equipped, the Label Red dispatches the benchmark 0-100km/h time a half a second quicker, at 3.8 seconds.
Thanks to the power of the electric motor (rated at 145kW - or 197hp), the XM can travel at up to 140km/h on electric power alone and officially, its electric range is up to 83 kilometres. It uses a 25.7kWh battery pack that can be charged at up to 7.4kW on an AC charger.
Lots of driving tech
To help keep all that performance - and the not inconsiderable 2.7-tonne mass of the XM - in check, BMW M has thrown its entire chassis knowhow at the car. Included as standard are electronically controlled dampers, active roll stabilisation, rear-wheel steering, rear-biased M xDrive (all-wheel drive in BMW M-speak) and an electronically controlled limited slip differential for the rear wheels. As ever with an M car, there's a wide range of adjustment available for the sub-systems to tweak the XM's behaviour to the driver's preferences. There's even a "4WD Sand" mode for tackling sand dunes at speed. We believe that's designed with BMW's Middle Eastern customers in mind more than those considering bringing the XM onto Inch Strand...
The 'Edition' version with the special paint and extra red highlights is priced at €232,720 and there are only five allocated in total for the UK and Irish markets.