The BMW XM’s introduction final 12 months stays a perplexing second in M’s historical past, and never for the rationale you’d anticipate. In contrast to the indignant mobs that flooded our Instagram feedback with a sea of complaints, taking dig after dig on the XM’s styling, I don’t hate it. Assertion items ought to have a spot within the automotive world. And whereas I notice that’s not precisely excessive reward both, we’re speaking about one of the vital polarizing automobiles unveiled in recent times right here.
It’s not its SUV kind issue that bewilders both. Though, given its in depth racing historical past, the XM isn’t what I imagine M’s flagship needs to be, it’s powerful to argue with the excessive gross sales figures high-power SUVs constantly pull in. I’ll not find it irresistible from an fanatic’s perspective, however its existence is simple to purpose from a monetary one. Plus, as machines just like the Aston Martin DBX 707, Lamborghini Urus, and Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT have repeatedly demonstrated, a giant, heavy, high-riding machine can nonetheless provide a correct thrill.
As a substitute, it’s the XM’s efficiency that makes the least sense. Don’t get me flawed, its arrival is a large deal for BMW’s M division. Not solely is it the efficiency model’s flagship product, but in addition its second-ever manufacturing automobile. But regardless of producing a large 644 horsepower from a hybridized twin-turbo V8, its 6,062-pound weight crushes virtually any efficiency good points, which means it’s no faster or extra pleasing to drive than its less expensive siblings, the X5 M Competitors and X6 M Competitors.
It took me getting behind the wheel of the 2024 BMW XM Label for issues to click on, basically a 738-horsepower sequel to M’s range-topper. Beforehand generally known as the Label Purple, the German carmaker dropped the second half of its title for but unknown causes, turned up its enhance to squeeze an additional 94 horsepower, tweaked its suspension, and gave it new purple badges. Whereas which will sound like a brief listing of updates, they profoundly impression how the XM Label drives, making it a much more pleasing machine to hustle up a twisty highway. The Label is what the XM ought to’ve been all alongside.
My temporary stint within the BMW XM Label occurred through the carmaker’s annual Take a look at Fest, this time held in South Carolina close to its Spartanburg plant. The setup was simple. BWM lined up dozens of its merchandise alongside each other in a big parking zone so journalists may hop in and drive off on certainly one of two pre-planned routes. This association, nonetheless, created a singular drawback for the XM Label. See, little or no differentiates it from its base counterpart, making it difficult for media and occasion workers to inform them aside. Except you select purple exterior trim or wheel accents, solely red-outlined XM badges differentiate the pair. And whereas I’m glad the phrase Label isn’t anyplace on or on this automotive, there are practically no visible indicators that you simply’ve paid up the additional $26,000 premium it instructions.
Conversely, in the event you’re a fan of the XM’s styling, you’ll be pleased to be taught it’s principally unchanged. My tester wore a darkish Ruby Black Metallic Shade, certainly one of over 50 BMW particular person colours out there at no further value, and a contrasting two-tone purple and black leather-based inside. In step with the theme of its unique title, the Label sans Purple is just provided with a split-color structure and carbon fiber trim. Purple outlined vents, distinction stitching, and an accented headliner tie the entire thing collectively. Like with its exterior, nonetheless, these modifications are purely visible. Its dual-curved screens, infotainment system, and cabin structure instantly carry over.
As a substitute, the BMW XM Label’s powertrain and chassis host probably the most vital updates. Thanks partially to elevated enhance stress, its 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 now produces 577 hp and 553 pound-feet of torque. A completely excited synchronous electrical motor nestled inside its eight-speed computerized transmission generates an additional 194 hp and 206 lb-ft. The Label pumps out a complete of 738 hp and 738 lb-ft, making it probably the most highly effective manufacturing BMW ever. Nonetheless, regardless of its energy good points, it scoots to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, the identical as an X5 M Competitors, and tops out at 175 mph when outfitted with the elective M Driver’s pack, or 155 mph with out it.
Nonetheless, these stats solely inform half the story. Whereas the usual XM was already a fast machine, the Label takes it into new territory, in step with what you’d get from a Lamborghini Urus or an Aston-Martin DBX 707, SUVs whose costs begin above the $200,000 mark. Its V8, regardless of being closely turbocharged, revs quickly, which is helped alongside by its electrical motor, making the Label really feel way more responsive than its base counterpart. It’s alarmingly fast, immediately delivering a wave of torque that holds regular up the tach. There’s no occasion through which M’s flagship feels sluggish or gradual. It’s correctly high-strung.
Maybe extra crucially than simply turning up the enhance, the carmaker’s engineers closely tweaked how its fuel and electrical powertrains work collectively. Beforehand, as you drained its 19.2-kilowatt-hour battery pack driving as much as 30 miles in electrical mode, the XM’s V8 would kick in with a blaring chilly begin and an accompanying sudden jolt that shook the entire automotive unexpectedly. This lack of refinement was downright unacceptable for a flagship with a $159,995 base value. The $185,995 XM Label, nonetheless, solves the problem to the purpose the place I didn’t even give it some thought throughout my quick stint.
The tweaks don’t cease there. The Label’s commonplace air suspension system will get trim-specific calibration to deal with the additional energy. It comes commonplace with M Suspension Professional, an lively anti-roll system, and lively steering, all of which permit this over 6,000-lb SUV to take corners at excessive speeds with out producing undesirable physique motions. It’s strikingly balanced, even on tight switchbacks. Its solely subject from a dealing with perspective is its footprint, which leaves no wiggle room inside the lane. Its fast steering, glorious six-piston commonplace brakes, and rear-biased all-wheel drive system are all as much as the duty of swiftly transferring this hefty behemoth alongside effortlessly.
Round city, nonetheless, issues change relatively rapidly. The stiffened parts that make the BMW XM Label a deal with on a again highway make it a ache nearly anyplace else. Regardless of its main suspension revisions, M’s flagship continues to be noticeably agency, crashing over bumps and transmitting undesirable highway noise and vibrations via the cabin.
On this regard, little separates the bottom mannequin and the range-topper. Though issues clean out at larger speeds, crawling round city at gradual speeds leads to near-constant bounces, even in its softest setting. Its well-isolated cabin and plush seats actually assist, however they’ll’t overcome this SUV’s harsh nature, which leads to a giant SUV that, though sporty, isn’t fairly as versatile as a few of its unique rivals.
I’ll admit. Having checked out its stats briefly earlier than my first drive, I anticipated the BMW XM Label simply to be a extra highly effective model of the usual mannequin. Nonetheless, in observe, it’s something however. M’s true flagship homes vital enhancements in virtually each space. It’s not simply fast in a straight line however well-balanced within the bends, and because of its tweaked hybrid powertrain, it’s extra cohesive and refined. Though it’s technically not faster on paper than an X5 M Competitors, it actually feels so in the actual world, now genuinely up there with Lamborghini and Aston Martin’s finest.
Nonetheless, whereas the Label is lastly what the XM ought to’ve been all alongside, it’s a couple of tweaks shy of being really spectacular. Softer suspension tuning would go a good distance. Whereas fans may sometimes pilot this high-powered behemoth up a again highway, it’s nonetheless, at the beginning, an SUV. Thus, it ought to provide consolation alongside this practicality and efficiency. Beginning at $185,995, XM Label continues to be, like the bottom mannequin that debuted final 12 months, primarily only a assertion piece, besides now it has the efficiency and driving expertise you’d anticipate from a correct efficiency flagship.
