Hot and cold electric news out of Munich ….

EXTREMES of temperature associate with two big BMWs set to push into new territory in production form from late next year.

From the ‘hot’ zone – though its look alone might leave you cold – is the Concept XM, previewing a showroom model of the same name, set to be the first standalone BMW M vehicle since the legendary M1.

The BMW XM (below) appears to be the mystery birthday present the make has built to celebrate next year being the 50th anniversary of the BMW M division. Obviously it’ll be a big shock for those hoping that occasion might have spurred in-house thought into knocking out something like a reprise of the first M1 or even the original M3. Seems ‘sporty’ these days translates to ‘massive affronting SUV’.

More on this later …

Now to the cold, with images just in from Arjeplog, Sweden - for decades now the choice of Arctic testing locations for the globe's major carmakers – of the i7, which anyone with understanding BMW badge-speak will tell you, is the all-electric version of the next 7-Series.

What BMW is calling it the “world's first pure-electric luxury saloon” – a sign their brains are ice-addled, as there’s already the Mercedes-Benz EQS – is clearly in advanced state of preparation for the showroom.

The car is based on the iX medium-large all-electric SUV that BMW NZ will have on sale here in 2022. While BMW has not gone into the i7’s technical detail, thought is that it will come with a two-motor, all-wheel drive setup, developing as much as 388kW when it slots into the iX50 xDrive. If that proves the case, then expect 0-100kmh in 4.6 seconds. The top iX50 runs a 105kWh battery giving range of up to 630km, but with the i7 being lower and sleeker, the i7 might go further, perhaps matching the EQS' 700km-plus capability.

Like Benz, BMW is not yet ready to eschew fossil fuel from its biggest luxury car. Whereas Mercedes will have EQS sitting beside the S-Class, the i7 will sell as an alternate to a conventional petrol and plug-in Seven.

The make suggests the winter testing is the last big test for the chassis and drivetrain before sign-off. It says the programme has given opportunity to hone to perfection “suspension components, together with steering, braking and vehicle stability systems.

“Specifically, springs, dampers and various regulating systems will be subject to performance-orientated tuning to ensure maximum driver feedback and enjoyment to match the several different drive modes.

“Amongst the extremely challenging winter conditions, Lapland's frozen lakes with their low road friction coefficient provide the opportunity for meticulous development of the steering, Dynamic Stability Control system (DSC) and the accurately regulated interaction between friction brake and deceleration by means of energy recuperation."

Of course, it's a test for the batteries too - electric range tails off as the temperature drops. But, they’d have already been there, done all that with the iX.

So back to the XM; a development name they might have trouble taking into production (because, well, Citroen) hangs onto what be the first ever electrified BMW M car.

Set to only be available as a plug-in hybrid and only as an M model, the car/beast uses a petrol V8 petrol and an electric motor to produce up to 600kW and 1000Nm of torque, the brand says. The only other performance-specific data released so far is that it has capability to travel up to 80km on zero-emissions battery power.

In respect to the look? Well, clearly BMW is out to ensure ‘kidney grille controversy’ becomes one of the top 10 ‘most searched for’ internet subjects; the concept's octagonal openings being tall and especially wide, and emphasised by integrated illumination … well, it’s certainly … erm … yeah. Within those flaring nostrils are the characteristic double bars of current M vehicles, and the XM badge.

Flanking the grille of grilles is an equally dramatic new lighting arrangement. The upper element holds the LED daytime running lights, styled to be reminiscent of BMW's traditional double-headlight look. The actual headlights, however, are mounted lower down and are almost concealed in the dark detailing. There’s thought this look will also go into the new Seven.

The car’s bulk in profile is lessened by the style of the side sills and the subtle two-tone paint effect, but it’s big alright; hence why it gets 23 inch wheels. A central ridge in the roof begins between the slimline LED searchlights mounted above the windscreen and gets deeper towards the back to the car to form unusual buttresses around which the tailgate glass is shaped. A BMW roundel laser-etched into the glass on each side is an M1 reference, apparently.

The rear features a new take on the traditional M quad exhaust setup, with a chunky aerodynamic diffuser between.

The cabin uses the curved glass display from the iX, but with bespoke graphics and menus. The XM's steering wheel is round (whereas on iX it’s octagonal). Trim blends vintage brown leather with high-tech carbon fibre elements that have copper thread woven into them, plus some red accents for historic reference.

While the front part of the cabin is orthodox, the rear is less so. The back seat is what BMW calls the M Lounge. It features 'petrol'-coloured velvet upholstery with diamond quilting and deep-pile carpet in green. Complementing all that is a new three-dimensional headliner with special illumination.