The XM is BMW M's first standalone model after the iconic M1 of the late '70s and early '80s, and as much as the German company would want us to think it is an appealing proposal in the super crossover segment, it's not, and the only reason behind it is the controversial styling.
You might be tempted to say that this is how BMW rolls these days. But that's not true, as it has some pretty high-riders in its portfolio, like the X5 (and X5 M), which is arguably one of the best-looking in its class. On the other hand, models like the X6 and its smaller siblings will never truly convince the petrolhead crowd they are worth it, just like XM.
Sharing many components with the largest Xs out there, including the X7, X6, and X5, as well as the 8 Series and 7 Series flagship sedan, the BMW XM officially came to market a little over a year ago. That is when production started at the South Carolina plant in the United States for worldwide markets, and since then, the company has constantly expanded the family to include additional members.
Since it comes to life in America, it was only logical that BMW would sell it here. The local lineup comprises the normal XM and the Label, which have respective MSRPs of $159,000 and $185,000. The former has 644 hp (653 ps/480 kW) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque on tap from their 4.4L twin-turbo V8 with plug-in capabilities, which enables the zero to sixty mph (0 to 97 kph) in 4.1 seconds. The latter boasts over 738 hp (749 ps/551 kW) and 738 lb-ft (1,000 Nm) and is half a second faster.
Photo: Manhart
What does this tell us? The base XM is slower than the cheaper X6 M, which starts at $127,200, and needs 3.7 seconds to 60 mph courtesy of its 617 hp (626 ps/460 kW) available. The X5 M is equally fast and a bit more affordable at $122,300 before destination. Even the smaller X4 M is faster at 3.9 seconds, and it comes with a $79,100 MSRP. In fact, it is equally quick to the base M3 Sedan, whose 473 hp (480 ps/353 kW) twin-turbo straight-six allows it to sprint to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds.
So much for the only standalone M model crown in BMW's portfolio, right? That would be a yes, as one can spend far less money on a faster vehicle from the same class, which looks way better than the XM. We hate to repeat ourselves, but we cannot see why anyone would ever get it over something like an X5 M, a far prettier proposal that costs less and is quicker. Let's not forget that the competition (pun intended) offers similar models, too, so you may want to check out Porsche's, Audi's, and Mercedes-AMG's portfolios before ordering an XM.
Since we've bashed it a bit more than we intended, let's move on to yet another tuned copy. This one came from Manhart and features a few add-ons on the outside that the company has bundled up into a package they named Thor. The updates revolve around the front, rear, and side attachments, including the long side skirts, new diffuser, apron, and a few other bits and bobs, with the fresh hood pretty much completing the build. Everything can be ordered in carbon or forged carbon, and Manhart decided to sprinkle some yellow accents on the car's black body.
Photo: Manhart
Manhart took to its official website and social media accounts to present the Thor kit for the BMW XM, announcing at the same time that they are working on carbon fiber exhaust tips and more add-ons for the rear bumper, which will be revealed in a few weeks. What they haven't said, however, is how much everything costs. You might think that the answer lies buried in the tuner's website, alongside a plethora of other upgrades for various models, but that's not the case – or it wasn't at the time of writing.
Nevertheless, someone interested in giving their XM this look can always reach out to Manhart, whose representatives will gladly answer all their Benjamin-related questions. Those who pre-order the kit will get a 12% discount, and fitting everything should be easy using fasteners and a special adhesive at the OEM mounting points. This means you can revert your BMW M super crossover to its original specification without hassle if you get bored with this look.
Still, it is a bit more appealing than the stock BMW XM, so it would be a well-deserved upgrade. But would you ever fit it to yours? And better yet, would you blow a lot of money on this model or get something else instead? The offer is varied, as we already told you, and it would be the X5 M that I'd drive home.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News