BMW M is preparing to present its first independent SUV, the BMW XM, and will name it that way with the help of Citroën.
Yes that's right. This model, whose large proportions and imposing double kidney were even anticipated in a teaser, will have the same name as the saloon that the French brand launched in the 1990s and which brought new features such as electronic control suspensions.
It's not easy to confuse a plug-in hybrid SUV with a power of around 700 hp (that's what it's supposed to offer…) with a French saloon with more than 25 years. But it is also not common to find two models of different brands, with the same commercial name.
But that is precisely what will happen in this case and the «fault» is with Citroën, which will have reached an agreement with BMW for the transfer of the name.
Confirmation of this agreement was made by an internal Citroën source to the publication Carscoops: “the use of the XM name is the result of a constructive dialogue between Citroën and BMW, so this has been carefully considered and discussed”.
Does Citroën use the acronym X? It's possible, but it also had to be authorized
This dialogue also gave the «authorization» so that the French manufacturer could name its new top of the range, the Citroën C5 X, with an X in the name, the letter that the Bavarian brand uses to identify all its SUVs.
“Effectively this is the result of a 'gentlemen's agreement' that reflects the introduction of a new model from Citroën that combines an X and a number, called the C5 X, and BMW's design in associating the X name with its Motorsport universe, through the famous M signature”, said the aforementioned source, cited by Carscoops.
Citroën authorizes but does not waive the acronym
As might be expected, despite having allowed BMW to use the XM designation on one of its cars, Citroën retained the possibility of using this name in the future, while protecting the use of other designations with the letter X.
“Citroën will retain the right to use X in names like CX, AX, ZX, Xantia… and XM,” he added.
Source: Carscoops