Meet The 2023 BMW XM High Performance Hybrid V8 SUV

The 2023 BMW XM is BMW's first-ever high-performance SUV with an electrified drive system. It features a 4.4-litre V8 hybrid engine offering up to 644 bhp.

• The XM is BMW's first high-performance hybrid SUV that comes with a large combustion engine
• New 'M Hybrid' system offers a 4.4-litre V8 twin-turbo working in tandem with a 25.7kWh battery
• Combustion engine offers 482bhp and the electric motor offers 194bhp
• The XM offers a total combined power output of 644bhp and 800Nm of torque
• 0-62 mph in just 4.3 seconds
• 51-55 miles of electric-only range from the 25.7kWh battery
• Up to 188.3 mpg (WLTP) thanks to the electric motor
• Features an eight-speed Steptronic transmission and all-wheel-drive (xDrive)
• Available to order now and priced from £144,980

BMW are no strangers when it comes to high-performance heavyweight cars. They already have plenty of kudos with the likes of the X5M, X6M and the X7 M50i. Now they have developed a hybrid electrified SUV to take advantage of the power of an electric motor.

Hybrid electric motor vehicles seem to be the way most manufacturers are going when it comes to gaining more performance but keeping emissions down. Recently, the Mercedes AMG C63 dropped from a 4.0-litre V8 to a 2.0-litre four-cylinder hybrid. But they have managed to extract more horsepower from this new engine compared to the bigger V8.

What does the 2023 BMW XM offer?

The new 2023 BMW XM takes advantage of the extra power from the hybrid 25.7kWh battery and electric motor, producing 194bhp alone. The 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 offers 482 bhp, giving you a combined 644 bhp.

This is enough to propel the 2.7-tonne SUV from 0 to 62 mph in just 4.3 seconds, BMW says. The 644 bhp is sent through the wheels through an all-wheel-drive (xDrive) eight-speed 'Steptronic' automatic transmission. There will also be a later version called the 'Label Red' model that will come with a 748 bhp capable setup.

The BMW XM has a top speed of 155 mph but this is limited and can be unlocked to 168 mph with the optional 'M Driver's Package'. BMW says the XM will get up to 188.3 mpg WLTP thanks to the hybrid system helping out. You also get up to 55 miles of electric range with the 25.7kWh battery. 

You have a couple of driving modes to choose from based on how you want to drive. The standard setting when you turn the car on is 'Hybrid' mode which is basically using the combustion engine and electric motor together to create a very economical drive.

Comfort mode priorities using the battery power and the 194bhp electric motor. If the battery juice gets low the car will use the 4.4-litre V8 to generate power to charge it. You also have Sport and Sport Plus which means the V8 power is prioritised in tandem with the electric motor if it has enough charge. This is where your big 644bhp comes from.

The driving modes also affect the suspension damping. Of course, Comfort mode allows for a softer setting whereas Sport and Sport Plus offer stiffer suspension for dynamic driving. The suspension features a double-wishbone front axle and a five-link rear with steel springs. 

The usual BMW refinements make the interior of the 2023 XM a plush and opulent car to drive, though this shouldn't shock you given the car is a £144,980 starting price. There are plenty of carbon inlays inside, M-badge adorned sports seats and a multifunction leather steering wheel, two curved 14.5-inch touch screens and a heads-up display. You also get paddle shifters if you're feeling the excitement of extracting all the power from the 644bhp engine.

The infotainment system on the touch screens is actually taken from the BMW iX fully electric SUV and we know it works well. Unfortunately, the XM does not come in a 7-seater similar to the iX as well. it's a strict 5-seater so those who wanted a powerful hybrid SUV but have a large family may have to pass the XM over.

In terms of boot space, the XM has a total of 527 litres when the rear seats are up and 1,820 litres with the rear seats down. This is slightly bigger than the space in the iX which comes at 500 litres. But slightly less than the Audi e-tron which offers 660 litres with the seats up.

When it comes to safety, BMW is leading the charge in modern driving assistants. Lane departure, adaptive cruise control, a speed limiter, front collision warnings, alertness assistance, evasion assistance and a speed limit warning on the heads-up display are all standard on the XM.

When is the 2023 BMW XM due to be released?

The 2023 BMW XM is available to order now from BMWs official website and deliveries are scheduled for early 2023.

How much will the 2023 BMW XM cost?

The 2023 BMW XM starts from £144,980