BWM Concept XM – a courageous and successful concept

December 7, 2021 Fiona Smith

Actually, I didn’t want to pay any more attention to the BMW Concept XM, but now that a week later I’m still seeing memes about it on social media, I want to comment on it, as most of them probably don’t understand what they’re seeing.

I’m usually not a fan of concept cars. I only remember my article: Mercedes Vision AVTR – What’s the nonsense? Mercedes Vision AVTR – What’s the nonsense? (mobilegeeks.de)

Too often, the concept cars presented by manufacturers have almost nothing in common with the later production car.

I’m not a particularly big fan of the common practice that prevails at automobile manufacturers: presenting a phenomenal concept car and then later putting a production car on the road that has as much temperament as a warm glass of tap water.

Here in particular, BMW has already proven in the past with the i8 that concept and reality do not differ as much as with other manufacturers. You can read more about this in my test article on the BMW i8. BMW i8 – the hybrid convertible of the future (mobilegeeks.de)

I honestly hope that BMW will stick to this line with the Concept XM and stay close with the production car, why more on that later.

BMW XM – a clear concept car

In the presentation of the Concept XM, BMW writes the following:

As part of Art Basel Miami Beach 2021, BMW M GmbH is presenting an expressive new vehicle concept to the global public for the first time: the BMW Concept XM. The model gives an outlook on the most powerful BMW M automobile ever built in series, the production of which will start at the end of next year. At the same time, the BMW Concept XM illuminates extraordinary aspects of the “M” brand

This first paragraph of the press release already reveals so much about the Concept XM that I no longer understand why the car triggered such a wave in social media.

Art Basel is an art fair. Accordingly, one can therefore assume that when a manufacturer presents a KONZEPT car at an art fair, the ART part is likely to be more important than the technology part.

If you are not sure yet, a look at the official introduction video for the Concept XM is enough. I’ve looked at it several times now and would still call it absolutely “GaGa”. But hey art is allowed to do that.

A few technical data have been revealed at BMW but a few more data and facts about the Concept XM. I have listed the most important ones in my opinion here for you:

The newly developed M hybrid drive combines a V8 engine with a high-performance electric motor and generates a peak output of 550 kW / 750 PS and a maximum torque of 1,000 Nm.
The BMW XM will be the first electrified automobile in the high-performance segment within the BMW M product portfolio. It will only be available as an M Hybrid.
The drive train ensures a purely electric range of up to 80 kilometers. The first electrified vehicle from BMW M GmbH in the high-performance segment is thus pointing the way to the future of the M.
The BMW Concept XM shows the new, progressive front design for the future luxury class from BMW for the first time. The focus is on the narrow icons of daytime running lights and the concise contour lighting of the kidney.
Vehicle design: Courageous, robust and new – the distinctive design of the BMW Concept XM is a highly emotional statement that goes beyond all norms and conventions.
Exterior design: The expressive exterior draws an expressive silhouette full of presence. The strikingly modeled surfaces and the extravagant lines create a unique design language.
Interior: With exclusive materials and the luxurious “M Lounge” in the rear, the interior reflects the new character of the BMW Concept XM. A special highlight is the sculptural, illuminated headliner, which gives the spacious rear area extravagance.
The BMW Concept XM shows an expressive new vehicle concept: an uncompromising BMW M with a distinctive BMW X design language.
For its 50th anniversary, BMW M GmbH is bringing the first exclusive M model to the streets since the legendary BMW M1.
The series vehicle, the BMW XM, will be produced at the BMW Group’s Spartanburg plant in the USA, the most important sales market for the new high-performance model, from the end of 2022.

BMW Concept XM – a small glimmer of hope

I understand that a lot of people made fun of the Concept XM at first. For me, however, it is more of a glimmer of hope on the BMW horizon.

Lately I’ve had my doubts about BMW’s course. The lead in electromobility that one had with the i3 and i8 has been gambled away colossally. In my opinion, BMW was brave, but unfortunately too far ahead of its time and perhaps not consistent enough.
In my opinion, BMW has never stopped building very good cars, but the transformation has seemed very slow – at least to me – recently. The BMW i4 will certainly also be a technically good car, but it hardly stands out from the monotony of the sedan design that is typical at the moment.

The story is different with the fully electric iX.

If you look at the two cars side by side, you can already see some parallel cars.

In my opinion, this is very important for the classification of the BMC Concept XM. An electric version of the iX from BMW M GmbH, which stands for sporty cars, is currently rather pointless in my opinion. Electric sports cars are fun, but are still impractical compared to combustion models because of the range problem. Of course, one can now discuss the fact that usefulness tends to be lower in the specifications of a sports car, but that doesn’t mean that it won’t matter at all.

As a result of the fact that BMW has explicitly labeled the Concept XM as a BMW M GmbH own model, it becomes clear that the XM will not be used as a reference for the models that are coming from BMW. There is no question that there is a worldwide need for sporty SUVs. Whether that makes sense or not is an open question. For my part, I am glad that the Concept XM is a PHEV hybrid vehicle. Personally, I would have liked a little more than 80 km of electric range, but I’m sure that a large number of customers can use it to manage their everyday lives fully electrically.

In the case of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid, I even allowed myself to be drawn into calling this engine combination a sensible car. Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid – The Reasonable Car? (mobilegeeks.de)

The last time a car was discussed in a similarly controversial manner was the Tesla Cybertruck. I personally wrote at the time: Cybertruck – Tesla shows the way again. Cybertruck – Tesla shows the way again (mobilegeeks.de)

With the Tesla Cybertruck, I was also happy that Tesla dared to do something new again. Little did I know, of course, that two years later it was still unclear when and how the cybertruck would hit the road. I expect a lot more from BMW here.

I am personally happy that BMW dares to set such a courageous example with the Concept XM and I hope that it will come as close as possible to series production. One must not forget that this is a car that hovers in price and performance scouts in which there are currently very few electrified offers and that alone is reason enough for me why I welcome the Concept XM.

But no matter what you ultimately think about the BMW Concept XM, BMW has definitely managed to generate a lot of attention with it and that is also worth a lot.