Because everyone wants an SUV right now.
We will disappoint those who were expecting a standalone two-door BMW M model that would succeed the M1 from 1978. There are no indications that such a vehicle is on the horizon. Instead, BMW’s performance division will launch the XM, which will be an ideological sequel to the M1. Why a large and heavy SUV when a sleeker and lighter coupe is better?
It is simple. The romantic 70s and 80s, when everyone wanted a coupe, are gone. The SUV segment is the fastest growing segment. Every company wants to stand out with a super-luxury sport utility vehicle or performance car. You can think of the Lamborghini Urus and Bentley Bentayga as well as the Aston Martin DBX and Maybach GLS. BMW M is a bit late to the party, and the XM will finally make its debut in its production form before the end.
“When we did M1 every car company wanted to say I have something special’ built an sports car — that segment was everyone wanted to enter,” Frank van Meel, BMW M boss, told Autoblog.com. It’s the SUV segment that is the largest, most important and fastest growing segment today. We were also lacking the ultimate luxury flagship at M, in comparison with other manufacturers.
The XM will not please purists. We would have preferred a two-door coupe with a midmounted engine, but we drove a prototype of XM. Our early impressions are surprisingly positive. The performance SUV is a departure from the BMW M cars, but it is still a very interesting product. According to van Meel, it is closer to the BMW M legacy than it appears at first glance.
“In our 50-year history, we have always looked at series-production cars and racing cars to see where they are going and what they can learn. This is what we’re doing with the XM. It has a V8 electric plug-in hybrid system, and our upcoming entry in the LMDh prototype category also has a V8 hybrid drivetrain. It works well for high-performance cars, too,” he said.
To celebrate the 50th Anniversary BMW M division, the XM will be released later in the year. It will weigh in at 2,700 kg (5,952 lbs) and be powered by a hybridized V8 engine that produces 644 horsepower (474 Kilowatts) as well as 650 pound-feet (881 Newton meters) of torque in its base version. Next year will see a more powerful version with 750 horsepower (552kW) and 737lb-ft (1, 000 Nm).