It’s big, brash and makes all sorts of noises that a petrolhead would love. But the BMW XM is a car that many car enthusiasts, myself included, would really struggle to fathom.

It has all the ingredients that’d make for a fantastic sports car. Under the bonnet resides a 4.4 litre twin-turbocharged V8, which has then been further boosted by a 194 bhp electric motor. The final combined power output is just a smidge under 650 bhp.

And the torque figure is equally impressive too, coming in at 800 Nm. But all of this power has been bolted into what could possibly be BMW’s largest ever production car, that also happens to weigh 2.8 tons.

So What’s This All About?

The BMW XM is the first dedicated, ground-up M car since the M1 of the 1970s and 1980s. In keeping with current consumer tastes, the XM is an SUV, very similar dimensionally to the BMW X7.

They have slightly different target markets though. Locally-delivered X7s have two less cylinders than the XM, with no option for a plug-in hybrid drivetrain. A six-cylinder XM 50e has been added to the line-up in select markets, but Singapore-delivered XM cars will only come with the full-fat V8. 

To understand the relation between the two cars, think of the X7 and the XM as the luxury and performance flagships of the BMW SUV range respectively.

More is, More?

To really drive home the point that you are in something really special, the XM looks like nothing else on the roads. Most of the front fascia is dominated by the signature kidney grilles, which have now been adorned with a matte gold finish and with accent lighting.

No bulky light clusters up front here; the DRLs are nothing more than mere smudges right below the bonnet line. The luminary heavy lifting is done by the light clusters that have been integrated into the lower half of the bumper. 

The gold theme continues throughout the vehicle. Diamond-cut 23 inch wheels fill the arches nicely, with a similarly-finished piece of trim that runs the perimeter of the windows on the profile of the vehicle. 

Smoked tail lights, quad exhaust tips and twin BMW emblems etched into the rear glass (a nod to the M1) round out the overall design of the vehicle. 

The Attention-To-Detail Continues Inside

The XM continuously reminds you that it costs $1,000,000 even inside the cabin. You’d really struggle to find exposed pieces of plastic in the interior – every surface has been trimmed in some sort of expensive-feeling material.

Distressed brown leather has been used to trim the top parts of the dashboard and the door cards. This creates a cosy atmosphere in the vehicle, which has then been complemented with integrated cove lighting on the ceiling. No cut-outs for the passenger airbag disrupting the grain and finish of the leather here – it has been relocated to the far left side of the iDrive screen.

The roof liner isn’t just a flat panel either. BMW has added geometric ridges into the design of said part, which again serves to reinforce the fact that this car costs significantly more than any other vehicle wearing the Bavarian marque’s badge. 

Being such a large vehicle, there’s copious amounts of space in the cabin. Robust sound insulation levels allow for peak enjoyment of its Bowers & Wilkins sound system. 

Surprisingly Athletic

Bury your foot into the footwell and you’d be greeted with a seemingly never-ending wave of torque. The XM’s nose pitches upwards, as it rapidly garners momentum in a cacophony of V8 noises. Your head is pushed into the backrest of the seat, and this sensation really only tapers off when you are well into triple digit speeds.

A big, heavy SUV should have no business being as fast as it is. But this brute has an equally potent power plant, its 800 Nm of torque enough to shuttle this hefty beast to 100km/h from a standstill in just 4.3 seconds. 

Don’t expect traditional M-levels of handling prowess in the twisties – this fast SUV is really spiritually a muscle car. And the growls, snarls and pops from the 4.4 litre V8 sells that illusion too. But you pay a literal price for that soundtrack; with the hybrid assist, I managed to achieve 10 km/l.

In full electric mode (the XM still feels decently quick even as a pure EV), you’ll return a range of 50+ kilometres, which is sufficient for most commutes in Singapore. As long as you have access to a charging point at your place of work/residence, you’d pretty much never have to use its V8.

Larger Than Life

The XM is a status symbol for owners that are jaded by your usual automotive status symbols. It is fast, brash and looks expensive, whilst managing to be practical, and as a full electric car, fairly efficient on your wallet.

Its controversial looks and large price tag may be hurdles that the Bavarian brand has to overcome if they intend to shift this vehicle in decent quantities though.

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