I drove the BMW XM – it’s big, blingy and has a monster V8 but costs an eye-watering amount

THIS is the biggest, baddest, blingiest BMW ever – and it’s here to battle Bentley’s Bentayga.

God, I do love alliteration.

To take on Bentley, BMW’s XM needs a monster V8 with e-mode. It has one. It’s 653hp and could drop-kick Optimus Prime over the horizon.

It needs a lush cabin. It has one. It’s like sitting in Kim Kardashian’s jewellery box. The curved rear seating is called the “M Lounge”.

It needs to look extravagant. It does. The illuminated gold grille tells you that. And it needs to be expensive. Which it most certainly is.

You won’t get much change out of £150k for the regular XM and there’s a Label Red version coming soon, closer to £170k.

That’ll be the most expensive Beemer by some distance.

But like I say, BMW wants a slice of the posh super-SUV market cornered by the Bentayga.

Now, some of my colleagues writing for glossy car mags will have given this car a steaming pile.

They’ll say it’s trying to be everything all at once and doesn’t justify the famous M badge. It’s the first “stand-alone M car” since the M1 in the Seventies.

They’re missing the point.

Calling it an X8, or whatever, wouldn’t be special enough for the world’s rich people. Plus, it’s all part of M’s evolution to electric.

Anyway, BMW isn’t bothered. This year’s supply is sold out.