Sense X

BMW M's first dedicated car in decades and its most powerful production car ever isn't a sports car or even a super sedan. It's a big hulking SUV and that has left many understandably scratching their heads. We spent some time we the XM to make sense of its existence

- Dhruv Saxena

The narrative surrounding the BMW XM since its arrival has been largely negative. Criticisms range from its controversial styling to BMW’s choice of an SUV body type for its flagship M product. And that negativity isn’t entirely unfounded either. After decades when BMW announced a standalone made by M product as a celebration of its 50th anniversary, no one seemed to agree to the idea of it being an SUV. But doesn’t it seem logical given that that’s what the world wants and the company, above everything else, is in the business of making money? Styling has been a point of contention with most new BMWs, but besides being an entirely subjective matter, most seem to come around and even end up liking aspects that had them up in arms initially. Take the 4 Series/M3/M4 grille for instance. Most weren’t best pleased with its shape and size but it looks like people aren’t just okay with it now, but seem to like it too.