The BMW XM Label Red is no normal BMW. In fact, it is no normal car. The XM exists as a fashion icon, as a statement. It is a car you will mostly see rolling down a high-end city street rather than taking kids to school. BMW named the Label Red the ‘Rock Star‘, which says a lot about the personality of this behemoth. The XM is based on the same architecture as the BMW X7, even featuring the same wheelbase. However, aside from the base of the vehicle, pretty much every other part is new, including the floors. Here’s what you need to know about the company’s most powerful M-model and an SUV that is pretty much a fashion item.

Related: 10 Reasons Why The BMW XM Label Red Is The Ultimate Super SUV

The BMW XM Label Red’s Design Is Bold And Controversial

At first glance, one can’t simply ignore the illuminated kidney grill. Now, depending on your taste, the size of the grille and the fact that it lights up is either insulting or amazing.

However, the rest of the car, even though huge, manages to look sporty yet elegant, which is a design not many SUVs manage to achieve. The bulging bonnet, raked windscreen, aggressive headlights, and slightly retro-looking roof lines make for an otherwise aesthetically pleasing design. Also, details such as the laser-engraved BMW logos in the rear window elevate the design to a whole other level. One thing to note is that the frozen black color with the red accents shown on the debut model is a color combination limited to just 500 vehicles.

XM Red Label Key Points

• A unique aesthetic with distinctive red accents enhances visual appeal.
• Its luxurious interior boasts extravagant details and advanced tech features.
• Exclusive fashion-focused model with sporty, and luxurious design elements.
• The XM strikes a design balance between luxury and aggressive sportiness.

Now, a part that is rather extravagant are the optional 23-inch wheels, which carry over the red and black accents from the rest of the vehicles. What’s for sure here is that you want to avoid potholes at all costs. That will be an expensive fix. Interestingly, BMW chose to stick with normal door handles here. That being said, the design of these “normal” door handles makes them look premium and fitting to the rest of the exterior.

Related: 10 Things To Know About The BMW XM

The Interior Is Tech-laden And Luxurious

The interior of the BMW XM Label Red is much like the exterior: extravagant. The seats are half red-half black and, as the name of the vehicle suggests, there are red accents all over the place (the color combination can be had on all XM Models). Furthermore, the XM badges, M Steering Wheel, carbon fiber paddle shifters, M logos on the kick plates, aluminum pedals, M-specific dials, and much more make the Label Red feel sportier than the competition. Red-accented HVAC vents, stitched surfaces, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 14.9-inch touchscreen with iDrive 8.5, a head-up display, and a 3D headliner, are some of the other niceties offered here.

On top of the dashboard, you get a huge, curved infotainment system that incorporates everything from the gauge cluster to the actual infotainment screen. The infotainment system itself can be a bit confusing, but you can plug in your phone and use wireless Apple Car Play or Android Auto. Ambient lighting is also plentiful, and the seats lean on the sporty side. The headliner does have a cool 3D look to it, but the truth must be said. The interior on the Label Red goes for a more extroverted “look at me” design. It isn’t subtle and elegant like the one on an Aston Martin DBX, for example.

Being an SUV, the interior is also practical with heated and cooled cup holders, a wireless charger, and plenty of storage space. The second row is a great place to be and might actually top the first row in terms of comfort. The seats are covered in leather and are soft and reclined, which makes them extremely comfortable. Of course, a center armrest is available, and so are climate controls and USB-C ports. A thorough passage to the trunk is also available and makes carrying longer items or grabbing something from the trunk much easier.

Related: BMW XM Label Red: All You Need To Know About The Most Powerful Road-legal BMW Ever

A Staggering 738 Horsepower At Your Disposal

Well, the power on offer from this vehicle is astonishing. However, firstly, we shall begin by giving you an idea of the size of the vehicle. The XM Label Red is on the same platform as the X7; however, it comes in at 1.96 inches shorter as it loses the third-row seats. That being said, it is still longer than an X5. Therefore, size-wise, it sits right in between the two. Worth noting is that the lines of the roof are also different and are a bit more reminiscent of a coupe rather than an SUV, like those of the X7 and X5 are.

Now to the exciting bits. The XM Label Red features a 4.4-liter V-8 paired with a hybrid system that, when combined, produces 738 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. As you might have gathered from the above dimensions, this is no small SUV. It weighs an astonishing 6,062 pounds, which means its 0-60 time sits at 3.7 seconds. Sure, 3.7 seconds is by no means slow, but it definitely isn’t as fast as the power of the vehicle suggests.

BMW XM Red Label Specs

(Data sourced from BMW)

Of course, the XM Label Red also features an Adaptive M Suspension Professional and an M xDrive with M Sport Differential for all-weather grip and high-performance driving dynamics. At over 6,000 pounds, don’t expect it to feel like an M3. This, once again, is mostly a fashion exercise. People who want a proper driver’s car will never get an XM Label Red.

Related: 10 Reasons Why The BMW XM Is The Ultimate SUV

The Most Powerful M Product Ever

Pricing isn’t official yet, but expect the Label Red to be priced at over $185,000. Of course, there are plenty of cars and SUVs to get at that price tag, so making a case for an XM Label Red is rather difficult. However, one thing is for sure. If you want a car that offers great technology and also manages to look unlike anything else on the road (regardless if its uniqueness is perceived as good or bad), then the Label Red is a good choice. It is a car that will be at home on the most expensive streets in the world and is more of a “look at me” statement rather than a sporty SUV. You should know that BMW will make only 500 copies of this super SUV.

If, on the other hand, you want something more subtle and elegant, then, as you might have realized, this isn’t the correct choice. In that instance, a Rangie should do the job perfectly.

Source: BMW and CarandDriver.