BMW has the Lamborghini Urus and Aston Martin DBX in its sights with its new XM plug-in hybrid, which takes the Bavarian brand into hitherto uncharted territory.

The newcomer is now available to order in the UAE, with an entry price of Dh750,000 (before options and personalisation). This spend gets you a potent super-SUV that’s clothed in offbeat angular bodywork that could be viewed as futuristic or visually challenging. It all depends on your perspective.

The XM’s building blocks are essentially the same as the X5M and X6M that currently spearhead BMW’s SUV line-up. It, too, is propelled by a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine and is underpinned by the brand’s modular CLAR platform that also forms the backbone of the former two models.

However, the XM ups the ante as its V8 engine is supplemented by an electric motor and 25.7 kilowatt-hour battery pack. The petrol-electric drivetrain pushes out total outputs of 653hp and 800Nm, enabling the 2.7-tonne XM to sprint from 0-100kph in 4.3 seconds and effortlessly reach its 250kph top speed. In addition, BMW says the XM can cover up to 88km in full-electric mode, enabling it to enter zero-emission zones (this will become more relevant in years to come).

The XM is also noteworthy as it’s BMW’s first dedicated M model since the hallowed 1978 mid-engined M1 supercar. This link is brought home by the twin BMW roundels that are laser-engraved in the XM’s rear window, mimicking the pair of logos that adorned the M1’s rump.