German premium carmaker BMW started presales in China on Wednesday of the plug-in hybrid XM, which is the company's first high-performance vehicle with an electrified drive system.

The model is the first M original since the M1 that hit the market in 1978. The XM was unveiled as a concept last year, before its global launch on Wednesday.

BMW said the model's key sales markets will be China, the United States and the Middle East.

Its production will start at its Plant Spartanburg in the US in December 2022 before it arrives at dealers worldwide in spring 2023, said the carmaker.

The XM, which BMW labels as a sport activity vehicle, features a 4.4-liter V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology.

It is assisted by an electric motor integrated into an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission.

Combined, they generate a maximum output of 480 kW and a top torque of 800 Nm. It sprints from 0 to 100 km/hour in 4.3 seconds.

The M Hybrid button on the center console is used to select one of three operating modes. Drivers can choose between Hybrid, eControl and Electric. The Electric mode allows the vehicle to run for around 80 km in the WLTP cycle.

BMW said the XM boasts the largest selection of driver assistance systems offered – either as standard or as an option – for any high-performance vehicle from BMW M GmbH.

The XM comes as standard with BMW Live Cockpit Professional, which brings with it an M-specific version of the latest-generation multi-sensory vehicle experience BMW iDrive.

Based on BMW Operating System 8, it comprises a BMW Curved Display formed by a 12.3-inch information display and a control display with a screen diagonal of 14.9 inches.

BMW is speeding up its efforts to shift towards electrification. In this year, its electric models will reach 15 across the globe. The carmaker expects its total deliveries of electric vehicles to reach 2 million units by the end of 2025.