BMW has unveiled the XM Label Red as the most powerful car produced by its M division. It packs a twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 and electric motor that combine for up to 748hp and 1,000Nm.
- BMW XM Label Red has an electric-only range of 76-84km
- It has Red Accents outside and inside
- XM Label Red can sprint from 0-100kph in 3.8 seconds
These figures represent a 95hp and 200Nm uplift over the standard XM, owed in part to an upgrade package for the V8. Alone, the petrol engine now produces 585hp and 750Nm – a significant increase on its usual 490hp.
BMW XM Label Red powertrain and performance
Meanwhile, the XM’s electric drivetrain elements – a 25.7kWh battery and a 197hp, 280Nm motor – are largely unchanged. A new pre-gearing stage patented by BMW boosts the motor’s torque output (to the gearbox) to a maximum of 450Nm, but it's unclear whether this is accessible at all times or limited to the launch-control setting.
The added grunt does make for a slight decrease in the XM’s electric-only range, from 82-89km in the standard XM to 76-84km in the XM Label Red, but this is still a competitive figure among similarly sized PHEVs.
The upgrades mean the Label Red can dispatch the 0-100kph sprint in 3.8sec, half a second faster than the regular XM. It storms onto a de-restricted 290kph in cars fitted with the optional M Driver’s Package or 250kph without it. EV mode limits the car to 140kph.
Power is sent to both axles and split between the two according to demand by an electronic multi-plate clutch, which in 4WD Sport mode increases the amount of power heading rearwards to ape M’s characteristic rear-driven handling dynamics.
A differential on the rear axle is also capable of splitting torque between the left and right wheels as required to “nip understeer in the bud without the need for brake inputs”, while a 48V anti-roll function enhances accuracy and precision in cornering.
BMW XM exterior and interior
The XM’s ethos of "on-stage/backstage", meaning the exterior is attention-grabbing and the interior is a cosseting lounge, is amplified in the Label Red. It receives a series of Toronto Red accents around the front grille and side windows (black is optional), as well as red and black interior trim.
The interior layout is otherwise unchanged, with lavishly upholstered leather bucket seats at the front and the M Lounge rear bench with a dedicated infotainment screen, tablet holders and USB-C ports.
Ambient lighting, four-zone climate control and a Harmon Kardon sound system are standard equipment; a 1475W Bowers & Wilkins hi-fi is available as an optional extra.
Will BMW XM Label Red come to India?
Since the BMW XM is already on sale in India, priced at Rs 2.6 crore, the Label Red could also make it to our shores albeit in limited numbers and at a slightly higher price than the standard XM. The Label Red will make its debut at the Shanghai motor show, as BMW acknowledges that China is a key market for the XM (alongside the US and the Middle East).
If BMW decides to launch the XM Label Red in India, it will rival the likes of the Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT and Aston Martin DBX 707.
Also see:
2022 BMW XM First Look: The most powerful BMW ever
2023 BMW XM Label Red image gallery