The release date of the 2023 BMW XM will likely be in early 2023. It will be available for sale at dealerships in the U.S. and international markets. BMW plans to start production of the 2023 XM in late 2023 at Plant Spartanburg, South Carolina.
For all the criticism BMW has faced regarding its design choices over the last couple of years – or decades, if one goes back to the Bangle era – people continue to buy them in droves. So despite the BMW XM’s outrageous appearance, we have little doubt that this milestone M car will be yet another resounding success.
The 2023 BMW XM, revealed here in concept form, for now, will be the first standalone M car since the M1. It needs to make a statement, and the XM does just that from its intimidating face to its 750-horsepower V8 plug-in hybrid powertrain. It’s an M car unlike any other.
Producing the majority of the power is a V8 motor lurking underhood. BMW isn’t detailing engine specs just yet, but it’s safe to assume this is the same twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter mill used in other eight-cylinder Bimmers.
It’s paired to a single electric motor, with the entire unit expected to drive all four wheels. BMW says the combined output between gas- and electron-burners is a stonking 740 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque.
We don’t have any idea what kind of acceleration metrics BMW is targeting, but judging by the 4.1-second sprint time of the BMW Alpina XB7 (down nearly 150 hp compared to the XM), we think a 0-60 mph time of fewer than 4 seconds is realistic. BMW is, however, citing roughly 30 miles of all-electric driving with the 2023 BMW XM‘s battery pack fully charged.
The 2023 BMW XM features a powerful hybrid powertrain. It combines a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine with an electric motor, which delivers an output of 750 hp. BMW didn’t yet announce the acceleration time for the XM.
However, the less-powerful Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid has a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 3.1 seconds. Therefore, the 2023 BMW XM will likely have an acceleration that’s equal to or lower than this.
There’s no doubt the vehicle you see here is a concept — the exterior styling is extreme and the seats look all kinds of uncomfortable. But this two-row prototype does preview an upcoming performance-focused SUV called the 2023 BMW XM.
Set to enter production at the tail end of next year, the XM is a plug-in hybrid with the most powerful engine BMW has ever stuffed into a road car. Too bad the outside is, charitably, difficult to love, and it’s named after a satellite radio provider.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
A twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 isn’t new to the BMW powertrain portfolio, but in the 2023 BMW XM, it’ll be partnered with an electric motor and a battery pack to create a whopping 750 horsepower.
BMW hasn’t estimated acceleration performance, but with that much power, it’s going to be screaming fast. By comparison, rival performance SUVs such as the Lamborghini Urus and the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid offer less muscle, but both delivered zero-to-60-mph times of 3.2 seconds at our testing.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
While we think the concept’s exterior represents a close estimation of what will eventually roll off the line at BMW’s manufacturing plant in South Carolina, we expect that several of its posh interior details will not make the jump to production.
The geometric headliner, for instance, will probably be replaced with fabric or a panoramic sunroof. We love the vintage leather upholstery and the quilted velvet rear seats, but BMW will likely choose more subdued materials for the final product.
Infotainment and Connectivity
A large, curved display stretches across the dashboard until it meets up with the passenger’s grab handle that connects to the center console.
The display serves as both a digital gauge cluster as well as on-board infotainment, and we can see BMW’s familiar iDrive rotary controller located just right of the shift lever.
We’re expecting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to be standard, and additional features such as SiriusXM satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and premium stereo system to be included as well.
As more information becomes available on the 2023 BMW XM, we’ll update this story with more details about:
- Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
- Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
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