The XM SUV is the most powerful BMW vehicle in production, but it is also the heaviest one. IND Distribution wondered if its actual power output to the wheels was higher than the official numbers, as is often the case with many German cars. Here are the results.
Before you watch the video, keep in mind that measuring the power output of a hybrid vehicle is challenging because of the various auto-adjustments going on in the powertrain and the various degrees to which the electric motor may be engaged at any given moment of time. This complexity, plus the fact that the battery of the example tested was not fully charged, all mean that the results obtained were rather approximate.
Even so, the dyno stand at Performance Eurowerks in Illinois showed the following peak values at the wheels: 623 PS (614 hp / 458 kW) and 771 Nm (569 lb-ft) of torque. Factoring in the transmission losses, we may assume that the actual output at the crank was in the general vicinity of 780 PS (769 hp / 574 kW) and 965 Nm (712 lb-ft).
