Auto CEOs more confident about industry prospects
The confidence of chief executives of automotive companies about the outlook for the new-vehicle market over the next six months has improved significantly.
- Industry News
- 11 September 2024
The BMW XM and M2 have finally made their way to South Africa and if you’re wondering how much they’ll set you back, then fasten your seatbelts.
The German manufacturer just released the pricing of the XM and M2, both models that featured at the BMW M Fest celebrating the M division’s 50th birthday at Kyalami towards the end of last year. At this event, the M2 made its world debut, and it was the XM’s first showing in Africa.
The XM SUV-like will cost you R3.4 million while the smaller M2 sports coupé will set you back R1 503 975 to be precise.
The XM is BMW’s biggest and boldest SUV yet.
In the case of the XM Sport Activity Vehicle, a 145 kW-electrical system added to the company’s 4.4 litre V8 and 480 kW with 800 Nm result in this plug-in hybrid capable of reaching 100 km/h in only 4.3 seconds and has an astonishing top speed of 270 km/h.
The BMW XM represents a complete reimagining of the high-performance car segment. It underlines the ability of BMW M GmbH to break with established conventions and push boundaries to offer fans of the brand the ultimate driving experience. The BMW XM is also the first standalone BMW M model since the legendary, mid-engined BMW M1.
The new BMW M2 follows a more traditional approach with a reworked three litre turbo in-line six-cylinder engine, rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual gearbox as an option above the eight-speed M Steptronic transmission.
The six cylinders will deliver a mouth-watering 338 kW and 550 Nm and outguns its predecessor by 66 kW and is capable of reaching 100 km/h in 4.3 second and 4.1 for the Steptronic transmission.
To get a proper picture of the M2’s proportions, it measures 214 mm less in exterior length than the BMW M4 Coupé models and has a 110-millimetre shorter wheelbase. At the same time, the vehicle and track widths exceed the figures for the new BMW 2 Series Coupé by a considerable margin.
The confidence of chief executives of automotive companies about the outlook for the new-vehicle market over the next six months has improved significantly.
The lack of access to the complete history of a vehicle from the Cradle to the Grave is hindering efforts by industry players to establish transparency and disclosure in the market and open the doors to a safer mobility solution.
The newly appointed Jetour South Africa Vice President, Nic Campbell (photo), says that the brand is poised to establish a new standard of excellence in the local automotive industry.
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