The interior of the BMW XM.

Racing feeling and long-distance comfort: Like the M specific graphics of the BMW Curved Display and likewise standard BMW Head-Up Display, the design of the controls also enhances the racing feel in the driver’s seat.

The M Lounge in the rear: Front seats designed entirely around an active driving experience are accompanied by an exclusive lounge atmosphere in the rear of the BMW XM. With a selection of extravagant colours and materials, innovative design elements, generous space and supremely comfortable seats with a rear-seat backrest that extends well into the sides of the cabin, passengers can sit back and enjoy the ride in this high-performance model’s unique M Lounge.

Domagoj Dukec, Head of BMW Design explains what makes the interior of the BWM XM so special: "It was a matter of creating an interior, which would engage the subject of luxury for M in a new way. We wanted to create a form of luxury that is at the same time unconventional. On the one hand, to retain the backstage imagery, we wanted to create a feeling of cosiness, a place where you can just let yourself flop. On the other hand, in an aesthetic that doesn’t follow the established rules of luxury."

The rear seat bench offers two outer seats with particularly high levels of comfort and a full-size space for a third passenger in the centre. The rear-seat backrest angle set for optimum comfort increase the feel-good factor for passengers. Deep seat recesses and a colour and material design that continues into the door trim panels combine to create an inviting lounge-like character in the rear seats with a snug and comfortable feel for passengers. Three-dimensional diamond quilting that also extends into the door trim panels, diamond-shaped contours on the upper section of the backrest and integral head restraints give the rear seats a modern and sporty appearance. High-quality cushions with soft, quilted Alcantara covers in the same colour as the seat surfaces and an inscribed M logo are also available as an additional comfort feature as part of the optional interior trim variants.

The sculptural headliner of the BMW XM is a rare discovery. The three-dimensional prism structure of its Alcantara surface and discreet illumination give the interior a particularly extravagant and progressive flavour. The visually striking headliner relief also optimises the acoustic shielding offered by the cabin. The headliner is bordered in the style of a photo mount by more Alcantara surfaces – in the same colour as the car’s interior – that reach all the way to the front, rear and side window areas.

"The interior is very dynamic, but not designed with speed in mind. The dynamics lie here in the combination of two different styles: the single-seat character with typical M seats in the front and the lounge in the back. One particular highlight on the XM is the sculptural roof lining. In contrast to a glass roof, it offers a unique visual experience coupled with a low centre of gravity", says head of BMW Design, Domagoj Dukec.

"This special interior design is exclusive to the XM. What’s important for the future is that in every single BMW M we create, we put the focus on our customers. We can’t yet plan what elements we will take over from elsewhere. Every vehicle has new challenges. It could be that we determine that we don’t need to reinvent an element because it’s already involved in a similar context. So we’ll be able to go back to things learned in the past and integrate them in the future. But we can’t plan that in advance, so every time it’s a question of: new game, new chance."

First-class comfort and functionality: The BMW XM features four-zone automatic climate control as standard, enabling temperature and ventilation to be controlled with the utmost precision. The cockpit’s integrated central vents are extremely slim, slot-type items, while each of the outer air vents features three slats in Black high-gloss. A separate control panel allows rear passengers to select their desired temperature independently. A standard nanoparticle filter keeps the air inside the vehicle free of virus-sized particles and allergens.