BMW’s upper-echelon SUV, the XM, now has a halo variant for the upcoming model year. BMW calls it the 2024 XM Label Red, and the automaker proudly declares it to be the most powerful M-series road-legal production car to ever take to the open highway.

The XM Label Red is outfitted with an M-level hybrid powertrain inspired by that of the new high-endurance M Hybrid V8 endurance racer. The 577-horsepower engine displaces 4.4L, and a beefy electric motor contributes to the vehicle’s total 738 HP and 738 pound-feet of torque. BMW’s M TwinPower Turbo harnesses the qualities of both sources and streamlines them, while the XM Label Red’s 8-speed Steptronic gearbox features a pre-gearing phase for a more responsive accelerator.

Using battery power alone, the XM Label Red’s range capabilities are impressive. The vehicle can travel 87 miles on electric power alone between charges, with BMW’s IconicSounds giving some ICE cred to the vehicle while underway.

More interesting, perhaps, is the vehicle’s integrated transverse dynamics management, which give the XM Label Red a truly hybrid driving style that’s equally divided between cushy touring and performance. For drivers focused on the latter, the optional M Driver’s Package gives the vehicle a 0-60 time of 3.7 seconds, and a top speed of 175 MPH.

Inside the cabin, the XM Label Red is both eye-catching and cutting-edge, with BMW’s curved display dominating the front and M Lounge holding forth in back. Live Cockpit Professional is standard on the limited-edition XM.

Although available in a rainbow of colors, the XM Label Red shoot example is fully dressed as an operatic attention-getter; the muscular bulk of the XM’s lines are enhanced by the use of ‘Toronto Red’, a striking accent against the otherwise black exterior. The effect is particularly noteworthy on the nose, where the inflated new-style BMW grille is rimmed in scarlet, but extends to the brake calipers, which emerge in relief against the glossy black wheels. Intense, baby.