The 2023 BMW XM Is A Hybrid Super-SUV With 644 HP And Crazy Design

• BMW has revealed the new 2023 XM, a performance SUV with a plug-in-hybrid powertrain.
• It features a twin-turbo V-8 and electric motor that combine to produce 644 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque.
• The XM starts at $159,995 and will go on sale in the US in the first quarter of 2023.

BMW M is famous for sports sedans such as the M3 and M5. But the performance division is heading in a lot of new directions of late, and the new XM 2023 combines many of these fresh elements in one vehicle — fitting, because it’s meant to be the M’s new flagship. As an SUV available exclusively as the M, the XM is too. introduced a new plug-in-hybrid powertrain that is the first hybrid to wear the M badge. The concept version of the XM proved controversial when it debuted last year, and now we have all the details on the production version slated to go on sale in the US in the first quarter of 2023.

The XM’s powertrain consists of a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 combined with an electric motor integrated into an eight-speed automatic transmission. There’s also a 25.7 kWh battery pack that allows an approximate electric driving range of 30 miles. Total output stands at 644 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, and there will be a more powerful Red Label version coming later with a claimed 735 hp and 735 pound-feet. This makes the XM the most powerful production BMW to date—and it will take all that grunt to move around its 6062 pound mass.

If it wasn’t an M exclusive, XM would probably use the X8 designation. It’s much bigger than the X5 and X6, but smaller than the three-row X7, much like the relationship between Audi’s Q7 and Q8 SUVs. The XM is a two-row model with five seats, and the interior features many of the wilder design elements seen in the concept version. There’s a two-tone blue and brown leather color scheme available, and the brown “vintage” leather is meant to look aged. There is also an interesting pattern in the headliner accompanied by an LED lighting element that pulses when you receive a phone call or try to open the door when an object is detected outside.

The exterior design is more angular and impressive than many other BMW SUVs. The large kidney grille up front is flanked by split headlights like those on the latest X7. A strong, accented line of character rises along the sides and appears on the rear door as a nod to the classic BMW Hofmeister kink. There’s the BMW logo engraved on each top corner of the rear window, and aggressive looking taillights wrap around the sides. The four exhaust tips and diffuser elements give the rear bumper a dashing look. 23-inch wheels are standard, but 22-inch is optional, and BMW says the smaller size saves weight.

Adaptive dampers are standard equipment, as are the electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential and the rear all-wheel drive system. The 48-volt active anti-roll bar is a new feature of the BMW M, although the XM uses traditional steel springs rather than air suspension. The early propulsion of our XM prototype earlier this year revealed a very interesting driving experience, thanks in large part to the steering tuning, so we’re hoping to sample the final version to see if the nimble handling is retained.

The XM will compete with other high-end SUVs like the Audi RS Q8 and Mercedes-AMG GLE63, and even aim for higher targets including the Aston Martin DBX and Lamborghini Urus. It will start at $159.995, but the options should add a sizeable amount to that total, and the more powerful Red Label model will bring the sticker price over $185,000. Like it or not, this super-SUV now represents the pinnacle of the M lineup, and will start arriving at US dealers early next year.