The Underdog Story of How BMW's XM Label Conquered Pikes Peak: A Tale of Torque, Tenacity, and Trees

In a world where electric SUVs silently whoosh past us with all the excitement of a bank queue, BMW has delivered a dose of adrenaline straight to the veins of the motorheads with their XM Label—packing a heart-racing 738-horsepower. This Bavarian beast didn't just climb Pikes Peak; it practically re-carved the mountain.

After a first attempt that ended with a bit more 'bark' than anticipated—yes, Mullins and his XM had an impromptu arboreal rendezvous—the team came back with a vengeance. Four months after the tree-hugging incident, BMW's XM Label didn’t just beat the SUV record at Pikes Peak; it obliterated it with a time that made the Lamborghini Urus look like it was on a leisurely Sunday drive.

Matt Mullins, BMW’s maestro behind the wheel and a man who drifts cars like you and I breathe air, wasn't deterred by the initial setback. With the kind of focus that would make a laser beam jealous, he piloted the BMW XM through 150 turns and a vertical climb that would make a goat dizzy, all to stop the clock at a gobsmacking 10:48:60. That’s right; he beat the previous record by the time it takes to sneeze.

But this story isn't just about numbers, it’s about heart. BMW chronicled the whole saga in a two-part cinematic masterpiece that’s part Rocky, part Fast & Furious, and entirely BMW. From the heartbreak of a high-speed cuddle with Colorado’s conifers to the triumph atop America’s Mountain, it's a story that will have you reaching for the popcorn with your racing gloves on.

This XM Label isn't just a pretty face with a leather-wrapped, LED-studded cabin—it's a rolling thunderstorm that’s as luxurious as it is ludicrously fast. Powered by a hybrid drivetrain that's as eco-friendly as a car with a 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 can be, it's proof that BMW can do sustainability with a smirk.

So, what have we learned? That the spirit of motorsport is alive and kicking, and it wears a roundel. And when BMW says they'll come back for another attempt, you'd better not blink. Because if you do, you might just miss history being made.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to watch that record run again. It’s not often you get to see Mother Nature and German engineering dance so elegantly—unless, of course, it's Mullins at a drift event. But that's a story for another day.