The BMW Concept XM promises to be an electrified SUV exclusive to the manufacturer’s M sports department. The vehicle promises to be as muscular in its looks as in its engine. The production model will come to cap the BMW range in 2022.
BMW announces the Concept XM, a large muscular SUV exclusively developed by its Motorsport department. According to persistent rumors that have been circulating for several months now, the XM could be the vehicle that we expected under the name X8, surprised repeatedly camouflaged during test sessions. In other words, this M model will not be a variant of a car from BMW’s regular lineup. Only its 1978 M1 supercar has benefited from this exclusivity so far. The production XM is expected for the 50th BMW M anniversary in 2022.
A front that imposes
The image of the XM released by BMW as a teaser suggests a particularly massive, angular and sculpted design. This goes through an oversized grille with bright contours halfway between those of the X7 and Series 4, whose imposing dimensions are accentuated by the finesse of the lights which surround it. The hood has a large bulge in its center, cut by a hollow that highlights the brand’s logo. At the corners of the front bumper, we can see air intakes reminiscent of those of the new 2 Series Coupé. According to the manufacturer, the XM concept will present the new front end of its most upscale models.
BMW XM, electrified and overpowered SUV
The BMW Concept XM is announced as a hybrid without further details; we can assume it is a plug-in hybrid. Some sources mention an electrified version of the well-known twin-turbo 4.4 L V8 with power over 700 hp., which remains to be confirmed. Automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive are to be expected, as is a riot of luxury and high-tech in the cabin. The production XM is expected to be produced at the BMW plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA. The Bavarian firm promises to reveal more during the contemporary art festival Art Basel in Miami (USA) which will be held from December 2 to 5, 2021.
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A BMW SUV in the name of Citroën sedan?
It will probably not have escaped you that the name XM is that of a Citroën sedan from the 1990s. The chevron manufacturer still owns this brand in France, its 1988 filing having been renewed for the third time in 2018 and not due to expire until 2028. BMW secured the XM name in October 2020 in several countries such as the Germany, the United States, Canada and Australia among others, but not in France. On the other hand, the German manufacturer is the owner of this name with the office of trademarks and patents of the European Union recently, which could allow it to use it in the 27 states concerned, including ours.
But Citroën seems finicky on this kind of subject and is currently blocking the arrival in France of Polestar, finding that the logo of the Sino-Swedish company looks a little too much like that of DS. A conflict cannot therefore be ruled out concerning the marketing of the BMW XM in France. For the record, Mitsubishi had also presented in 2016 a concept car named XM, in Indonesia, but it is under the name Xpander that the production model is marketed there since 2017.
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