BMW will be leading the field at this weekend's Bathurst 12 Hour, with the new XM serving as the event Safety Car.
This year marks the first of a multi-year agreement that sees high-performance BMW M vehicles feature as the event’s official on-track cars.
This includes static displays in the Bathurst 12 Hour Manufacturer Walk within Harris Park, as well as dynamic demonstrations and hot laps on Mount Panorama itself.
The announcement coincides with the return of BMW M Team WRT, which will again run a pair of BMW M4 GT3 entries and include among its driving squad MotoGP legend and now BMW factory driver, Valentino Rossi.
The BMW XM, which launched in 2023, is the first BMW M car with an electrified drive system and the first standalone model developed by BMW’s high-performance division since the M1 supercar of 1978.
Its plug-in hybrid drive system brings together a newly developed 4.4-litre M TwinPower V8 engine and electric motor to deliver 480kW and 800Nm.
The BMW XM shares a driveline concept with the BMW M Hybrid V8 race car that will compete in this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Alex McLean, General Manager of Marketing for BMW Australia, said the deal confirmed BMW’s commitment to motorsport, high performance cars and the global significance of the Bathurst 12 Hour.
“The new BMW XM is a key component of our new partnership and we look forward to featuring it in the 2024 edition of the event. As well as performing its important on-track duties, it will also act as a luxury transfer vehicle, transporting guests from the base of Mount Panorama to the summit and enabling them to enjoy multiple perspectives of the action.”
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