The BMW XM Label Red will have a leading role on the track in the upcoming season: as the new MotoGP™ safety car. For the first time, a high-performance automobile with an electrified drive, the performance-enhanced M HYBRID system, will lead the field in the premier class of motorcycle racing. "It is a logical step that the most powerful BMW M car we have ever brought to market will be the new spearhead of our safety car fleet in MotoGP," said BMW M CEO Franciscus van Meel. Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of MotoGP™ rights holder Dorna Sports, is also looking forward to the new addition: "With the BMW XM Label Red Safety Car, the fleet of high-performance cars in use in MotoGP will be strengthened by another real highlight. We are already looking forward to seeing it on the track in Qatar."
The safety car needs a lot of power for its tasks. During a race, it drives onto the track, places itself in front of the leading vehicle and keeps the field together until safety on the track is restored - for example, when debris has been cleared away.
The BMW XM Label Red has no shortage of power. A V8 engine and an electric motor integrated into the 8-speed M Steptronic transmission together produce a system output of 550 kW (748 hp). For its use as a safety car, the electrified high-performance SAV is fitted with a range of special equipment, including the front flashers, the safety car roof bar, a front splitter, Recaro seats, 6-point racing harnesses and a fire extinguisher. The new safety car will make its first appearance at the start of the 2024 season in Qatar in March, when it will also sport the typical BMW M livery.
The first MotoGP safety car with electrified drive is clear proof of our pursuit of new, future-oriented technologies.