The lightest, most focused versions of BMW’s current M car range wear the CS badge, and although its application may be somewhat disingenuous with the 4,000-lb M3 CS Touring, or station wagon, common sense has prevailed in that BMW M *won’t be adding those two letters to its crossovers and SUVs.* [@adamlynton please add link] But that doesn’t mean that the M division won’t venture further into the SUV realm. Speaking with Australia’s CarExpert, BMW M CEO Frank van Meel revealed that an M-branded flagship off-roader could make a certain amount of sense because the Dakar Rally is a racing event, and BMW M was born in the world of motorsport. This isn’t the first time that such a potential product has made headlines, either, but first, let’s see how van Meel would justify its existence.
BMW M Boss: Motorsport Isn’t Always On Asphalt
BMW
“I could imagine M on off-road products,” said van Meel, “because if you come from racing, there’s not only the WEC and IMSA [categories], but the Paris-Dakar [off-road rally].” The BMW M boss’s comments came in response to being questioned about whether an off-road-specific M car would make sense, and although he went on to note that the X5 is already fairly capable off the beaten path, highlighting BMW’s X5 driving experiences in the deserts of Namibia, he added that he is not averse to an alternative approach. “We do have an X5 M as well, but I don’t think that is where your question was heading,” said van Meel. “I don’t think it’s [an off-road M model] a contradiction because, in Paris-Dakar, if you look at the race cars, they’re quite performance-driven cars as well. So, if there would be a segment like that, I wouldn’t say no.” In other words, if it is a high-performance product, BMW M would not be selling out by creating a vehicle more suited to tackling rugged terrain than toppling lap time leaderboards. In fact, it may already be in development.
BMW M’s Next SUV May Be a G-Wagen Rival
Last year, Automotive News reported that BMW was working on a rugged off-road SUV to rival the iconic Mercedes-Benz G-Class, and that this would replace the unpopular XM SUV. Instead of trying to rival the likes of the Bentley Bentayga and Aston Martin DBX, BMW seems to be preparing to take a piece of the G-Wagen and Defender Octa pie with something reportedly internally codenamed G74. This is said to be underpinned by the next-generation G65 X5’s bones and is expected to arrive in 2029, shortly after the underwhelming XM ends production in November 2028. An electrified V8 powertrain and all-wheel drive are all but inevitable when the new SUV arrives, with production expected to take place at the automaker’s Plant Spartanburg facility in South Carolina. Interestingly, Bentley recently unveiled an off-road-focused Bentayga X Concept of its own, indicating that there must be signs of significant demand for a six-figure luxury SUV that can decimate dunes and bash boulders.
About the author
Sebastian Cenizo
Senior Editor, Autoblog