BMW M Division Might Be Planning A Mercedes G-Class Rival

BMW’s M division has built its reputation on asphalt. But according to BMW M boss Frank van Meel, the idea of an off-road model wearing the M badge is not as unlikely as it once sounded.

The German automaker is reportedly working on a competitor to the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and Land Rover Defender. In a recent interview with Australia's CarExpert, van Meel suggested that applying M engineering to a purpose-built off-roader would not actually contradict the brand’s motorsport roots.

“I could imagine M on off-road products, because if you come from racing there’s not only the WEC [World Endurance Championship] and IMSA [International Motor Sports Association] [sports car categories], but the Paris-Dakar [off-road rally],” van Meel explained to the outlet.

The Dakar has evolved into one of the most demanding motorsport events in the world, with factory-backed teams building highly specialized vehicles designed to withstand long-distance desert stages, extreme heat, and punishing terrain.

In recent years, the race has welcomed entries from Toyota, Ford, Audi, and Dacia, the latter taking victory in 2026. BMW has a history there as well, having claimed multiple wins in the motorcycle class, while Mini—under BMW ownership—won as recently as 2021.

BMW itself does not currently produce a body-on-frame off-roader, but the ultra-premium off-road segment commands profit margins that are too lucrative to ignore. BMW's SUV portfolio, including the X5 and X7, is engineered for on-road refinement and dynamic isolation. "As you know, we don’t have any off-road vehicles at BMW for Paris-Dakar, even though you can take an X5 – we offer driving experiences with the X5, by the way, in Namibia – so you can use our cars off-road," van Meel pointed out.

Even the X5 M remains a performance SUV in the traditional sense, with zero emphasis on low-range gearing, underbody protection, or the suspension travel required for sustained trail work. Don't even bother talking about the XM.

BMW Builds A Geländewagen

Reports out of Europe indicate BMW is developing a rugged SUV, internally codenamed G74, positioned as a rival to the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and the latest Land Rover Defender (L663). If it reaches production, it would represent BMW’s first model designed from the outset with serious off-road capability. The vehicle is expected to be built at BMW's Spartanburg, South Carolina, facility starting in 2029.

From a timeline perspective, the timing of the G74 project aligns with the expected exit of the BMW XM. The abominable plug-in hybrid V8 SUV is expected to end production in November 2028. Buyers spending well into the six figures often prefer the utilitarian aesthetic and perceived durability of a boxy four-by-four over a high-riding track vehicle.

Details remain limited, including the powertrain strategy. The XM pairs a twin-turbocharged V8 with an electric motor. Whether BMW plans to carry over a similar electrified V8 setup, adopt a new hybrid configuration, or move toward a fully electric architecture for a rugged SUV remains unclear. Funny enough, the Defender OCTA actually uses BMW's 4.4L S68B44T0 twin-turbo V8 for motivation, same as the BMW XM.

Van Meel did not confirm a program, but he did not dismiss the concept either.

AutoGuide's Take:

BMW M has recorded record global sales in recent years, driven in part by the proliferation of M-badged variants across the lineup. That range now stretches from full M cars like the M2 to M Performance models such as the M240i, which occupy a space between standard cars and dedicated M products.

An off-road M would represent a new extension of that strategy, though it would also test the definition of what the badge represents. Historically, M cars have been engineered around measurable gains in acceleration, braking, and cornering. Translating that to a vehicle expected to climb over rock shelves or traverse sand dunes would require a different flavor profile, although not a total departure from M's core values of maximizing performance—it's just a change in targeted metrics, frankly.

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