Plug-in Hybrid SUV... High Performance Stands Out
"Pre-Booking in February"
Expected to Compete with Last Month's Launched Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] BMW will launch its first new car of the year, the XM, next month. It is a large sports utility vehicle (SUV) featuring a high-performance plug-in hybrid system. It is expected to compete with the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, which is in a similar class.
On the 8th, a BMW official said, "The XM model will accept pre-orders this month and is scheduled for official release at the end of March." Last month, the XM completed emission and noise certification with the Ministry of Environment. This is a mandatory procedure before a new car launch.
BMW adds an M badge to its high-performance lineup, and the XM was developed as an exclusive M model, not a derivative of an existing vehicle. This is the first exclusive M model since the sports coupe M1 in 1978.
The biggest feature of the XM is that it is a PHEV. It combines a high-revving V8 gasoline engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology and an electric motor. The maximum output reaches 653 horsepower, and it accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in just 4.3 seconds. The battery capacity is 25.7 kWh, allowing electric-only driving up to 88 km under European standards. The top speed in electric mode is 140 km/h. Its length is 5110 mm, classifying it as a large SUV.
The XM includes IconicSound Electric, co-developed with famous film music composer Hans Zimmer. It produces dynamic sound effects tailored to driving conditions. The price in the U.S. market is $159,000 (approximately 200 million KRW). As it is produced in a U.S. factory, the domestic price is expected to be somewhat higher.
The main competitor is the EQS SUV recently introduced by Mercedes-Benz in Korea. On the 31st of last month, Mercedes-Benz launched this model, describing it as "the first luxury SUV developed based on the electric vehicle-exclusive architecture EVA2." It is a large SUV that can accommodate up to seven passengers and, according to domestic certification standards, can travel up to 459 km on a single charge for the EQS 450 4MATIC model. The battery supports fast charging up to 200 kW. Its length is 5125 mm, and the top speed is 210 km/h. The price starts at 152.7 million KRW (for the EQS 450 4MATIC model).
BMW plans to release various new SUVs starting with the XM. In the first half of the year, it will launch the iX1 (new model) and the X1 (full model change), and in the second half, it will introduce the X5 (facelift) and X6 (facelift). Last month, domestic sales reached 6,089 units, about twice that of Mercedes-Benz, which sold 2,900 units last year and ranked first annually.
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