New Delhi: With SUVs ruling the world, the interest in rugged, off-roaders might be at an all-time high. Many carmakers have converted their everyday crossover to something more capable for off-roading. Even BMW is jumping on this bandwagon, as the German carmaker is apparently making a rival for the iconic Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
Official details are still scarce, and the SUV isn’t expected to arrive until the end of this decade. Media reports do suggest BMW is already chuffing on full steam with the idea, as other brands, including Audi and Genesis, are considering a rugged SUV of their own. It is obvious to go for a G-Class rival.
The G-class is still hugely popular, and just last year sold 49,700 units. The models have been in sale for almost 50 years and has face little competition in the luxury off-road segment. BMW, though, hasn’t given a confirmation for the G-Class, but a lot of reports suggest that the company might be planning for one very soon.
What is known about the BMW off-roader?
BMW’s off-road could take on the X5
BMW hasn’t given any name to the public about the off-roader, and though internally it is reportedly the project is being called the G74, which won’t be the name on the final production vehicle. If the SUV comes to the market, it will likely be following the ‘X’ prefix as has been the brand’s strategy. The model is expected to serve as a halo SUV for the brand, most likely replacing the XM at the top of BMW’s portfolio, with reports suggesting the XM will be dropped from the production line.
The new SUV will be riding on the modified version of the platform used by the next-gen BMW X5.
At present, the BMW X5 models use the CLAR (Cluster Architecture) platform, which also underpins many of BMW’s bigger vehicles and SUVs, including the XM. G74 would likely use an adapted version of this architecture, heavily reinforced and upgraded in order to have serious off-road capability.
Since CLAR debuted a decade ago, BMW will likely continue evolving the platform before the new SUV is unveiled. The present-day X5 (G05) entered production in 2018, and its G65 successor, which is coming this year, should be arriving with more updates that the off-road model will build from this. The present BMW XM comes with a twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 plug-in hybrid making 738 bhp and 1000 Nm of torque.
A non-electric version of the engine powers the BMW X5 M, where it makes 617 bhp and 750 Nm of torque. BMW have said that its present generation of ICE powertrain, including the Rolls-Royce, will be engineered to meet future emissions rules. It could also come with a performance version at some later point, and that will be interesting to see as well.