Actual-deal BMW fans aren’t precisely enthused by the XM. It’s a three-ton hybrid SUV with a deal with backseat luxurious as a substitute of dealing with or dynamics, so not precisely the kind of machine fans gravitate towards. It doesn’t make a ton of sense why BMW M—named after literal motorsport—would construct such a automobile. Nevertheless, that doesn’t imply all must be misplaced. BMW M can nonetheless make one thing genuinely particular out of the XM and I believe it might go an extended method to restore some religion into the model—a BMW XM CS.
Thus far, each CS model BMW has made has been fairly spectacular, even going again to the F80/F82 M3 and M4. Then the M2 CS and M5 CS proved that BM M can nonetheless make absolute magic. The M3 CS is claimed to be comparable as properly. Which is why I believe BMW ought to apply that very same magic to the XM.
A BMW XM CS may really be fairly fascinating, regardless of what some fans may suppose. Nevertheless, it does require fairly a little bit of modification from the usual automobile.
Let’s begin with the powertrain. The BMW XM’s greatest attribute is its V8 hybrid powertrain. Nevertheless, in the usual automobile, it solely makes 644 horsepower. A CS model goes to want the total 738 horsepower XM Label Purple powertrain. Simply with out the remainder of the Label Purple’s supposedly fashionable nonsense. A titanium exhaust can be welcome, too.
After including the Label Purple’s firepower, it’s time to start out stripping again. The XM’s greatest downside is weight and that should change. After all, nearly all of its weight comes from its massive battery pack and hybrid powertrain. However there’s lots of weight that may nonetheless be taken out. As an illustration, the massive, cozy seats will be changed with carbon fiber buckets, each back and front. The rear seats, that are the principle inside focus within the XM, will be changed with two racing buckets, like within the M5 CS. It will possibly additionally ditch the polygonal headliner and lighting. A ton of leather-based will be changed with Alcanatara and far of the inside sound deadening might be eliminated. The hood is also changed with a carbon fiber one.
Then, wider light-weight wheels may accommodate wider tires, for higher grip. The wheel diameter might be made smaller in order to suit larger sidewall tires. The air suspension may keep however it wants critical recalibration, much like the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT. It will additionally want revised steering tuning, extra detrimental camber, and even a thinner steering wheel.
If BMW made all of these adjustments to the XM, it might really be a reasonably cool automobile. Positive, it might be costly, doubtless round $200,000, vehicles just like the M4 CSL and three.0 CSL have confirmed that individuals will purchase no matter BMW places out so long as it’s a limited-production, particular version model. So BMW ought to completely make an XM CS.
