Cara terbaik untuk menikmati BMW Concept XM adalah dengan tidak mempunyai sebarang perasaan mengenainya.

Ada seketika dahulu kami bimbang tentang dengan hala tuju reka bentuk BMW, tetapi dengan BMW Concept XM, akhirnya ia boleh dikatakan dengan jujur bahawa kami tidak peduli akan apa yang mereka akan lakukan lagi. Kami tidak akan membeli BMW dalam masa terdekat pun. Mereka boleh lakukan apa yang mereka mahu dengan arah reka bentuk mereka. Kami tidak perlu menyukai BMW untuk menyukai kereta. Kehidupan kini lebih menenangkan.

Pertama kali kami melihat foto BMW Concept XM, perkara pertama yang saya fikirkan ialah: “ini mesti teaser kepada BMW X8 M yang akan datang, kereta prestasi hibrid pertama BMW M”.

Perkara kedua yang kami fikirkan ialah: “mengapa ia kelihatan sangat pelik… tidak mengapa, kami tidak kisah”.

Kami masih mengambil masa untuk membaca siaran medianya, tetapi bukan kerana kami kisah sangat tentang perkara ini, tetapi kerana kami terpaksa buat cerita ini. Apa yang saya pelajari?

Kami difahamkan bahawa Concept XM “memberikan gambaran pertama reka bentuk hadapan baharu untuk model kelas mewah BMW yang akan datang.” Ya betul … muka yang ini:

Inilah wajah pereka BMW bersetuju untuk flagship mereka yang akan datang – X8 M dan mungkin generasi 7 series seterusnya. Ini bukan gurauan. Inilah laluan yang dipilih BMW.

Kami juga difahamkan bahawa X8 M yang akan datang TIDAK akan dipanggil X8 M. Ia akan dipanggil XM. Dan ini membuatkan kami sedikit terkilan kerana BMW memang terbaik dalam memastikan tatanama mereka ada logik. Jika mereka benar-benar menamakan SUV prestasi akan datang ini sebagai XM, kami sebenarnya tidak peduli langsung. Sayang sajalah. Kami sudah menerima hakikat bahawa jenama BMW bukan kami yang punya untuk perlu dibimbangkan, dan merekalah yang terpaksa mengimbangi satu set gril buah pinggang yang terlalu besar di atasnya.

Siaran media mereka walau bagaimana pun mempunyai beberapa maklumat yang kami benar-benar hargai.

• model pengeluaran siri ini akan dibina di BMW Group Plant Spartanburg di Amerika Syarikat
• BMW XM akan menjadi kenderaan eksklusif PHEV dan BMW M
• janakuasa XM akan menjadi V8 elektrik dengan 750hp dan 1000Nm tork
• XM akan mempunyai jarak elektrik tulen sejauh 80km

Kami juga harus akui bahawa bahagian dalamannya kelihatan agak menarik, terutama sekali kulit coklat gelap dan reka bentuk papan pemuka yang tidak menimbulkan kontroversi.

Tetapi tak tahu nak katalah tentang apa yang berlaku di belakang. Rasanya seperti kereta yang sama sekali berbeza di sini. Headliner berinspirasikan poligon 3D adalah unik, tetapi campuran upholsteri hijau dan biru janggal sekali. Tetapi kami bertahan. Kami hanya di sini untuk melaporkan berita bahawa BMW ada kereta konsep baharu dan mereka telah buat sesuka hati mereka kepadanya.

BMW juga melancarkan Konsep XM ini secara strategik sejurus selepas Youtube menyembunyikan butang Dislike/Tidak Suka untuk video-video di platform mereka. Baguslah tu. Kini hanya angka jualan yang penting.

Jika anda ingin melihat sendiri siaran media mereka, ini dia:

BMW Concept XM PRESS RELEASE

BMW M goes its own way in the luxury segment.

The BMW Concept XM sees BMW M GmbH forging a distinctive path in the luxury segment. The car’s exterior majors on presence and extrovert appeal. Inside the car, a special take on the driver-focused cockpit for which M models are renowned meets an all-new rear compartment design: with its high-comfort seats and illuminated, sculptural headliner, the M Lounge offers passengers a luxurious retreat.

The front end: progressive design for maximum presence. 

The BMW Concept XM debuts the new, progressive front-end design for BMW’s luxury-class models, a version of which will be seen for the first time in 2022 as part of the BMW model offensive in the luxury segment. The headlights have been split into two separate modules, a new design feature which creates a visually arresting appearance. The daytime driving light signature in the sharply styled, slim upper module is particularly eye-catching. The horizontal kidney grille sits boldly between the headlights and tapers towards the outer edges, producing a near-octagonal outline that emphasises the front end’s dynamic character.

The black kidney grille elements are enclosed within an intricate surround and appear almost to be floating freely within a High-gloss Black surface. M-style double bars within the grille add to the perception of width. Eye-catching contour lighting sets off the grille to fine effect, ensuring the striking composition of kidneys and daytime driving lights is immediately recognisable in the dark as well. The new XM logo in the kidney grille and the large air intakes hint at the power of the V8 engine, which teams up with the electric motor to form the M Hybrid system.

M-specific details point to compromise-free performance.

The glasshouse of the BMW Concept XM rises up vertically, accentuating the front end’s strong, imposing feel. The colour of the roof contrasts with the black finish of the A-pillars. The windscreen seems to have an even heavier rake as a result, injecting modern dynamism into the front end. Slim LED searchlights have been incorporated into the roof above the A-pillars. The boldly sculpted bonnet extends the contours of the kidney grille back in the form of two power domes. A pair of air intakes in the bonnet mimic the appearance of the LED searchlights in the roof and add extra dynamic flair. Framing the statuesque body at its lower edge are the clean-cut black surfaces of the front apron. Triangular body-coloured blades at the outer edges accentuate the vertical air intakes while emphasising the sporty and robust stance of the BMW Concept XM.

The side view: an expression of unbridled dynamism. 

The powerful and heavily contoured proportions of the BMW Concept XM highlight the car’s resolutely standalone identity and draw the eye to the coupé-like character of the body. The visually striking front end, long bonnet and stretched, sloping roofline present a characterful two-box design with a distinctive outline. The window graphic narrows significantly as it approaches the rear, enriching the dynamism of the side view.

The two-tone paint finish of the BMW Concept XM further accentuates its distinctive lines: the upper section is in matt gold-bronze, while the lower section sports the Space Grey metallic shade. Below the window graphic, a broad, High-gloss Black line – the “black belt” – separates the two exterior colours. The signature M exterior mirrors give the car a clean-cut and technical, sporty edge. The charging flap rearwards of the front-left wheel is a reminder of the M Hybrid drive system at work.

Throughout the side view, deliberately short character lines, which start off boldly before fading softly, accentuate the car’s agile, modern feel. The expressive rear lights extend well into the car’s flanks and create an eye-catching transition into the rear. The black cladding typical of BMW X models above the wheels and on the side skirts is very clearly defined and gives the body an elevated appearance. The elongated body sits on 23-inch light-alloy wheels, which bring extra power and solidity to the side view.

The rear : powerful stature and newly interpreted design.

The design of the rear end likewise accentuates the car’s powerful stature, and the BMW Concept XM cuts a low and sporty figure from this angle. The rear window is inserted almost seamlessly into the rear end. The fresh interpretation of the design can also be seen in the arrangement of the BMW logo, which is laser-etched into the window below each of the two cant rails. This is a stylistic reference to the BMW M1, to date the only example of a standalone model developed exclusively by BMW M GmbH.

Lower down at the rear end, prominently flared wheel arches draw attention to the car’s powerful stance on the road. Extremely slim and boldly L-shaped rear lights extending across almost the entire width of the rear add to the effect. The lights themselves have a dark appearance when not active, giving way to a precise and uniform shade of red when switched on. Dominating the rear apron are the characteristic twin tailpipes of BMW M models. The dual-branch, twin-tailpipe exhaust system employed here reduces backpressure for the V8 engine and also generates the emotionally rich M-typical soundtrack accompanying the engine’s imposing power delivery. The vertical arrangement and hexagonal interpretation of the tailpipes breathe new life into this classically iconic feature.

The interior design – high performance and extrovert luxury.

Inside the BMW Concept XM, the driver will find a distinctive M interpretation of driver-focused cockpit design. The lines and surface design of the instrument panel, centre console, door trim and seats give the ambience in the front compartment a progressive feel with their powerful geometry and high-quality materials. Brown, vintage-look leather, copper and carbon fibre create a bridge between luxury and motor sport. A bold trim element provides clear visual separation between the driver’s area and the other sections of the car.

Inside the cockpit area, a decorative surface made from carbon fibre with interwoven copper thread creates a sporty and exclusive base for displays, air vents and control/operating elements. The new BMW Curved Display screen grouping positioned above it creates a neat balance between traditional driver focus and modern digitality. Red accents on the steering wheel and centre console are M-specific references to the car’s sporting prowess. A trio of vertical elements presented in the three colours of the BMW M brand logo form the heart of the centre console.

Spacious and luxurious: the M Lounge. 

The unwavering driver focus of the front compartment contrasts with the extravagant and luxurious lounge-like ambience in the rear of the BMW Concept XM. Special materials, visually powerful surfaces and expressive details turn the rear seats into the unique M Lounge, black-tinted rear side windows underscoring the abiding sense of privacy here. While warm brown leather dominates the cockpit, the rear is decked out in the rich colour shade Petrol. The large rear seat bench with its deep seat recesses forms an inviting space to relax. Only the diamond-shaped area of the head restraints – which provides the supporting function familiar from BMW M Sport seats in other models – is leather-trimmed. The lower sections of the seats offer high comfort and an exclusive couch character with their luxurious velvet upholstery and diamond quilting. Deep-pile carpeting with a diamond pattern adds to the exclusive impression.

Illuminated and sculptural: the headliner.

The visual highlight of the cabin is its headliner with a three-dimensional prism structure. A combination of indirect and direct lighting produces a relief-like structure which showcases the headliner as an exclusive work of art. Together with the ambient lighting, it highlights the BMW Concept XM’s blend of luxury and comfort to extremely striking effect. The ambient lighting can be activated in the three BMW M colours.

BMW Curved Display with M-specific user interface. 

Based on the latest generation of BMW iDrive, the M-specific version of the control/operation system translates the high-performance character of the BMW Concept XM into the digital world. Showcased in the familiar three M colours, the user interface lends itself perfectly to a sporty driving experience. It visualises the modes of the hybrid drive system as well as the pure-electric driving mode with captivating aesthetic appeal. The BMW Curved Display provides the perfect stage for showing off this bespoke design and previews the user interface that will bring extra intensity to the driving experience in all future BMW M models.