Meet The BMW Concept XM: The First Standalone M Car In 40 Years

The new BMW Concept XM was teased earlier this month and previews the production XM SUV, which will be the first standalone BMW M vehicle since the legendary M1. It's a sign of the times that BMW has chosen an SUV for such an honor considering that the brand's M cars were once exclusively lithe sedans or sporty coupes. The Concept XM teaser shocked everyone with what looked to be the largest interpretation yet of the brand's distinctive grille design, and the reality is much the same now that it's been officially revealed at Art Basel's 2021 Miami Beach show. BMW says that the US will be the XM's most important market.

Outside, the Concept XM has headlights that have been split into two separate modules. They surround the massive kidney grille which has horizontal slats and a near-octagonal outline. The grille also has contour lighting.

Once you've digested its face, you'll notice the Concept XM's other interesting styling elements like blacked-out A-pillars, LED lights incorporated above these pillars, and side glass that tapers as it approaches the rear. A two-tone paint finish mixes a matte gold-bronze upper section with Space Grey Metallic lower down.

At the back, the taillights extend into the flanks and these lights are completely black when they aren't illuminated. Twin tailpipes in the BMW M tradition are fitted although they have an unconventional vertical arrangement. The Concept XM rides on large 23-inch light-alloy wheels.

Moving into the cabin, the Concept XM comes with a driver-focused cockpit and high-quality vintage-style leather in Brown. Copper and carbon-fiber materials are also in evidence. The BMW Curved Display presents the most crucial information to the driver.

Several sporty elements like red steering wheel accents and the BMW M brand logo colors on the center console remind one of the vehicle's firm positioning in the M family. By contrast with the Brown leather in front, the rear cabin is finished in a deep aquamarine shade called Petrol. The lower seat sections are finished in velvet with diamond quilting. Along with deep pile carpeting, it's clear that this is a luxury vehicle as much as it is a performance one. Look up and you'll see a headliner with a three-dimensional prism structure. Three BMW M colors are on offer for the ambient lighting system.

Now for the truly exciting bits. The Concept XM will be sold as a plug-in hybrid model only. The hybrid system combines a V8 engine with an electric motor for combined outputs of 750 horsepower and 737 lb-ft of torque.

No other current or past BMW M car has been as powerful. An estimated all-electric range of 30 miles is on the cards if you can resist the temptation to utilize the V8's power at every opportunity.

"The BMW Concept XM represents a complete re-imagining of the high-performance vehicle segment," said CEO of BMW M GmbH, Franciscus van Meel. "It underlines the ability of BMW M GmbH to break with established conventions and push boundaries in order to offer fans of the brand the ultimate driving experience."

The production BMW XM will go into production at the end of next year at the BMW Group Spartanburg plant in South Carolina. With the X5 M starting at $105,900 (or over $9,000 more with the Competition package), we expect the XM to begin at around $130,000 when it arrives in the US.