BMW Concept XM First Look: A High-Performance Plug-In Hybrid M SUV

If there is one thing to take away from the 2023 BMW Concept XM reveal, it is this: BMW's X models are going to be more interesting moving forward. That's not to say BMW's SUVs have been anything close to boring, but if its standard utility vehicles—sorry, its "Sports Activity Vehicles"—have not left a strong impression, that's going to change.

From the Concept XM's sculpted looks to its drastically sized grille and its interesting lighting choices, the Concept XM is going to give the production XM something extraordinary to live up to. And that's before you consider the V-8 engine and plug-in hybrid system that should, at least in terms of raw power, be worthy of the BMW M badge it wears.

The Interesting Lighting Choices

See All 15 Photos15

When we say the Concept XM has "interesting lighting choices," we don't just mean the shrunken headlight size. While it is recognizably "BMW," the headlights are joined by a dual-module headlight system with "spotlight" LEDs in the roof just above the A-pillars. They follow raised humps in the roof structure, which straddle a lower center section that slopes down further at the rear hatch. This design gives the four-door SUV a "coupe-like character," according to BMW.

Further lighting is integrated into the outline of the large grille openings and also glows from the front "XM" stripe badge. It will be interesting to see if any of these lighting choices actually make it to the production version of the XM.

See All 15 Photos15

The separation and inversion of the daytime running light locations and those of the headlights like we see on the Concept XM is one feature guaranteed to be seen in all BMW models going forward. What you see in the typical area for headlights—or where you'd expect the headlights to be—are just daytime running lights. What you can't readily see is that the headlights are positioned below those running lamps, hidden behind dark-tinted glass. If you look closely, you can just make out the "C" shapes in the glass beside the sloping portion of the "kidney" grilles. Those are the headlight modules. While it's not confirmed from BMW that this is exactly how this new design is going to work, this drastic separation will make it to future production BMWs.

See All 15 Photos15

The tail lights are also hidden by completely dark-tinted lenses when turned off. When activated, these lights are revealed to be a roughly L-shaped line of LEDs that hooks around the rear quarter panel. The shape hints at the performance-driven body of the Concept XM. To further the idea, the hatch glass features a callback to the original M1: a pair of etched BMW roundels at the tops of the seamless-like glass where the roof pillars end.

A Sculpted Body with Muscular Highlights

See All 15 Photos15

The Concept XM is finished in a two-tone treatment, the colors separated by the beltline. Up top, the XM is painted in a matte-gold bronze, while the lower portion is finished in Space Grey Metallic. A "black belt" between the lower portion of the side glass and upper section of the rear quarter glass help keep them and the lower body separate from each other. The black A-, B- and C-pillars help give the Concept XMs greenhouse a "wrap around" appearance, too.

See All 15 Photos15

Just above the 23-inch black wheels sporting machined accents is bold, black fender cladding that all current X-series SUVs wear. Here, these pieces also seamlessly transition into the black front apron, rocker panels, and rear apron, though the general shape of the forward-leaning fenders suggest, of all things, Toyota's current RAV4 compact SUV.

The rear bumper features an integrated diffuser and the exhaust is split into pairs that mimic hexagons on each side of the bumper. The traditional fuel door is located just behind the right-rear door and in the quarter panel, while the battery charging port is located behind a door in the left-front fender, just in front of the driver's door and under the "XM" striped badge.

A Rockstar Interior

See All 15 Photos15

Heading inside the Concept XM, we are greeted with a very striking cabin design that BMW describes as "rockstar." That descriptor is not necessarily used because the look is outlandish; instead, it's a nod to how each section is treated like concert staging. The front is considered the "front stage" where the band plays while the rear is treated as a "backstage" where the band can relax and enjoy the luxurious creature comforts that modern rock-and-roll brings.

See All 15 Photos15

Translation? The front area is driver-focused, as any BMW M-model should be, so it's where more action takes place. (To be fair, the front seat is where most of the action takes place in any other human-driven car, but we digress.) The driver is surrounded by the instrument panel made of aged, tanned leather and carbon-copper weave trim. Yes, the strange pattern you see in the center console and main dashboard is carbon fiber with copper threads mixed into an opposing lateral weave. The display is curved around the driver and gives the Concept XM a true, modern cockpit feel and is a hint of future BMW designs going forward, just as the front end is. Just below the right-hand portion of the curved display are three elements with M tri-color stripes on their lower edges, just to remind you of its performance heritage.

See All 15 Photos15

The backstage, however, is truly a step away from the driver-focused cockpit and an almost jarringly luxury-focused space nicknamed the "M lounge." The rear bench seat's upper section is wrapped in black leather, and the lower portion of the seatback and the cushion are wrapped in a velvet-like aquamarine-shade petrol fabric. Both the petrol fabric and deep pile carpeting feature a "diamond stitch pattern," which looks more rhomboid than true diamond pattern to us.

See All 15 Photos15

Either way, the deep seating and dark tinted rear windows give the "M lounge" a truly inviting and private vibe, much like a real backstage. Whether this is an experience M GmbH fans are looking for is another debate entirely. Anyway, the full "concert experience" is highlighted by LED accent lighting in the roof moldings that gives the "diamond" headliner an organic, "coral" appearance in each of the three M stripe colors.

There's Still Some Music

See All 15 Photos15

Powering the Concept XM and the production XM will be a BMW V-8 with a plug-in hybrid system. Electrification not only enhances the power of the gasoline engine, but also allows for periods of near-silent, electric-only driving. While no official EPA figure was announced, BMW expects the XM to drive up to 30 miles in EV-only mode.

Of more interest to M fans is that, when both the V-8 and its electric assist motor are working in tandem, the XM is expected to make 750 hp and a peak of 737 lb ft of torque. Air is fed to the engine by the twin openings on the back side of the hood, which are highlighted by the power domes that rise up from the grilles and split briefly by a BMW roundel.

See All 15 Photos15

The 2023 BMW XM is expected to begin production at its Spartanburg Plant in Spartanburg, SC in late 2022. BMW says that production will be done there since the U.S. is "the most important sales market for the new high-performance vehicle."

The German luxury and performance manufacturer also says the production XM will closely resemble the Concept XM show vehicle you see here, down to much of its interior and exterior treatments. Muddying the waters a bit—i.e., couching that things could change if people sour on the concept's looks—BMW warned that the XM's design is "not the gospel."

Given how the XM's production debut will coincide with the 50th anniversary of BMW Motorsport, now known as BMW M, you can bet BMW is hoping it gets this high-performance plug-in hybrid SUV just right as it ushers in M's next 50 years.