They wanted to break the record, they broke the car instead. But that was back in June. Now, they are back at Pikes Peak with a new attempt and a new motivation.
Same team, same driver, same car going up the mountain. The first time, it was trial and error. The second time, they were yet to see how it would turn out. But the "same car" part was pretty difficult. The BMW XM Label they used back in June was badly damaged, with a wheel broken off and the front end in pieces.
Where would they get an XM Label from? The cars made or in production were already pre-sold. They called the plant, pulled some strings, and found an XM, with just four weeks left before the first snowfall.
They made all the safety mods fast forward, and they were ready in time. Pro racing driver Matt Mullins seemed to be ready, too, despite the horrific crash he was involved in back in June. Luckily, back then, he walked away without a single scratch.
The time target hasn’t changed either. Matt had to go faster than 10 minutes and 49 seconds. A good clean run to the top, and it's a record for hybrid production SUVs. They know they can do it. "We’re gonna beat that race record," they said showing massive confidence.
Once again, Matt had a good getaway, and the XM did what it does best: be stable, safe, and fast. The Label variant comes with the 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged engine, working alongside an electric motor for a total of 738 horsepower (748 PS) and 738 b-ft (1,000 Nm) of torque. These are the figures that make it a wolf in ship’s clothing. It is the most powerful M car that has ever seen the light of day.
Photo: BMW
Matt went through the corner where he crashed, and this time, he got it right. He pushed on to the summit.
The team gets info on time from checkpoints, and everything seems to be going just right. The closer the car gets to the summit, the more excited they become. The corners become tighter, the ascent becomes steeper. It is the point where an inch too much to the left or one too much to the right means a crash down the mountain.
At the top, the checkered flag announced the end of the run. Down the mountain, everyone is waiting for the info from the top. They did their own calculations, but they are waiting for the official time. Once they lay their eyes on it, they start cheering. It’s 10 minutes and 48.60 seconds.
The BMW XM Label is the fastest hybrid production SUV at Pikes Peak. They finally achieved the goal they set out in the first place. And they all know it wasn’t a walk in the park, but a run up the tricky mountain. Make that two, actually.
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