BMW simplifies the XM's engine range and introduces minor updates

Perhaps it’s because of its high price, its extravagance, or because whichever way you look at it, it makes little sense, but the BMW XM was the least sold model from the German brand, despite being the first electrified vehicle developed entirely by BMW M and being a sporty SUV that, in its most extreme version called the Label, is capable of making many theoretically superior sports cars look ridiculous.

The future of the BMW XM therefore doesn’t look promising given the sales figures, but BMW wants to give it one last chance and is introducing a series of updates that basically affect its personalisation and engine line-up, the latter perhaps being the most surprising, as the XM will be left with two very different powertrains.

Starting with the personalisation options, the BMW XM now has the new Frozen Tanzanite Blue metallic colour available from BMW Individual, along with a colour that can be accented with a high-gloss Black line. To this we must add a new animated light and, for Europe, 22-inch alloy wheels in a double-spoke 922 M Bicolour design are now fitted as standard, replacing the 21-inch wheels, while 23-inch M lightweight alloy wheels in 1096 M style in black become the new option.

Moving to the interior, you can choose Merino leather in Night Blue from BMW Individual if you want an extravagant cabin. In the XM Label variant, new colour combinations are added as options, such as Merino leather in black combined with surfaces and inserts in Vintage Coffee Brown, or, if you prefer, the same leather in Silverstone colour combined with black. It’s also worth noting that comfort cushions will now be available for all versions.

As for the mechanical side, BMW is dropping the 653 hp engine used by the 4,400 cc TwinPower Turbo V8. The entry point to the BMW XM therefore remains the XM 50e, which combines a 313 hp inline six-cylinder engine with a 197 hp electric motor, resulting in a combined output of 476 hp from the M Hybrid system. If you want the electrified V8 engine, you have to go for the most powerful version, the XM Label, with 587 hp from the V8 engine which, together with the 197 hp electric motor, results in a combined output of 748 hp and a huge torque figure of 1,000 Nm. It’s worth noting that the BMW XM Label now accepts AC charging of up to 11 kW.

The updated BMW XM is already available in Spain, with prices starting at 134,100 euros for the XM 50e, while the XM Label starts from 189,350 euros.