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BMW recently simplified the name of its most potent production car. It’s now the XM Label, dropping the “Red” from its title. This plug-in hybrid SUV packs a punch with 738 horsepower and 737 pound-feet (1,000 Newton meters) of torque. Weighing over 2,700 kilograms (nearly 6,000 pounds) and priced at $185,000, it remains as provocative as ever. Moreover, it’s the first dedicated M model since the iconic M1, standing out as a colossal plug-in hybrid SUV.
A recent video showcases the BMW XM Label’s prowess, filmed in Germany on an unrestricted Autobahn section. Accelerating rapidly, it hits around 290 km/h (180 mph). It’s where the electronic limiter of the optional M Driver’s Package typically kicks in. This electrified M SUV boasts a 577-horsepower combustion engine. This is complemented by a robust 194-horsepower electric motor, demonstrating its impressive towing capacity.
Speed in a straight line isn’t the only benchmark for performance enthusiasts, yet the XM Label’s acceleration stands out, especially considering its size. BMW engineers, constrained by physics, face challenges in designing M vehicles. Consequently, despite their ingenuity, the XM’s larger size and higher centre of gravity fall short of the M2 G87’s cornering capabilities.
The XM Label’s leather-clad interior features an illuminated headliner and the plush ‘M Lounge’ rear seat. It compensates for agility limitations with its powerful bursts of speed. In 2024, BMW will unveil two more models, the M5 Sedan (G90) and M5 Touring (G99), equipped with a version of this plug-in hybrid engine. Their lower ground clearance and theoretically lighter weight should render these vehicles more agile and manoeuvrable.
BMW is poised to unveil its first all-electric M vehicle, completely free from internal combustion engines. Slated for around 2027 or 2028, the electric M3 will utilize the advanced Neue Klasse platform. Initially, expectations pegged the XM as a direct M1 successor, but market trends steered towards an SUV design. This move, featuring the XM and its inline-six 50e and Label versions, heralds M GmbH’s transition into the electric age, meeting modern preferences.
