BMW "Rugged" flagship off-road SUV (G74) coming to battle G-Wagon!

[Jolbex]

Originally Posted by Scrippy

So the G wagon is not an off road legend. To say it is, merely points out how out of touch and clueless to off roading you are. I do love BMW but I would not waste the money for this goal. People don’t buy G wagons for the capability, they buy it for status. Another fools mission for BMW. When do the silly endeavors for a great touring & GT car company end? Too many car companies are attempting to do too many things they shouldn’t.

Here in Europe G IS anboffroad legend. It was a standard army, police, firemen and forest vehicle for decades. Used in many countries, produced under Mercedes, Puch or Peugeot badge.....

[XZLR8]

Never really been a Gwagon fan, for a whole host of reasons, but I sure do love the new Defender Octa. It will be cool to see what BMW brings to that fight.

[Beemertechnik]

if Mercedes’ G wagon can do “G-turn” and spins imagine what the BMW Rugged will do!

excited to see a BMW iteration of a super off-road SUV

[Needsdecaf]

File this under a huge MEH, sellout and shameless cash grab.

The G Wagon is a real thing. Born out of an actual military unit, it's been in production for decades and is something honest. It speaks to Mercedes past as a world leader in technology and quality (yes I know, the military grade ones aren't posh and are rattle traps but they are still around!).

If BMW were to do something similar, seems like a shameless ripoff to me. It's not who BMW is or was. I remember the launch of the original X5 and the great, GREAT pains BMW went to to call it an SAV (activity) not an SUV (utility).

My how times have changed. But all we need to do is look at the current range of FWD / Mini based compact BMW's to know that this started a while back.

[Beemertechnik]

Originally Posted by rx867

If it’s even remotely like the BMW Desert Taxi- I’m buying it

that would be crazy if they came close to the same kind of performance



bmw dune taxi

[bandersen]

Originally Posted by DDS2015

Hopefully it isn’t priced like an XM. Needs to sound as menacing as a G-wagon.

My x5 lease is up in March of 2029….. could be good timing!

Good timing? You really want to buy the first year of a brand new model? Hope you live across the street from your dealer!!

[F32Fleet]

So it's a rebadged Ineos Grenadier?

[tnot]

Found one on CarMax:

[DDS2015]

Originally Posted by bandersen

Good timing? You really want to buy the first year of a brand new model? Hope you live across the street from your dealer!!

I used to think that way, but the tech will be carried over from other cars built in Spartanburg, so will the powertrain.

So it might have a few rattles? I dunno what there is to be so scared of… 🤷‍♂️

[GOLFFRR]

interesting, luxury off road where buyers will buy it and never take it off road lol love it!

[baron95]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

File this under a huge MEH, sellout and shameless cash grab.

The G Wagon is a real thing. Born out of an actual military unit, it's been in production for decades and is something honest. It speaks to Mercedes past as a world leader in technology and quality (yes I know, the military grade ones aren't posh and are rattle traps but they are still around!).

If BMW were to do something similar, seems like a shameless ripoff to me. It's not who BMW is or was. I remember the launch of the original X5 and the great, GREAT pains BMW went to to call it an SAV (activity) not an SUV (utility).

My how times have changed. But all we need to do is look at the current range of FWD / Mini based compact BMW's to know that this started a while back.

But the G-Wagen is actually a very bad road vehicle for its price. It is so cramped inside, has tires that are way too small for any serious off-roading capability. The LR Defender is actually a sales blockbuster and a better target for BMW.

[Hansn]

If they really want to compete with the G class they should develop a car on the same principle. And in doing so aim to sell it to NATO countries as an actual offroad capable millitary vehicle. Then develop a "street" verson of that car with the same capabilities, but more luxurious, or a rugged "work/utility" version.

[jphcbpa]

For years I have said I wish BMW would build an SUV that sits up higher. I loved my x7 but wanted a vehicle with better seating position. Hopefully this is not a body on frame (rough ride) and they can make it similar to a range rover with off road ability but smooth luxurious ride on road (air suspension / all wheel steering)

from Autocar...

A senior BMW manager told Autocar that development work for the upcoming G-Class rival was well under way: “We’re aware of the market potential [of such a vehicle]. It’s more than just discussions. We have been planning this for a while. It will definitely need an internal combustion engine.”

While hints at the design of the new model are yet to emerge, the G74 is expected to combine elements of the company's new Neue Klasse lineage with traditionally rugged design cues.

Expect greater ground clearance, longer-travel suspension and approach, departure and breakover angles that better any current BMW model.

It has been conceived to offer seating for up to seven in three rows, within a luxurious cabin featuring a higher level of material quality and equipment than today’s range-topping SUVs, Autocar has been told.

It will be sold in all of BMW’s existing global markets and could wear the X8 moniker that was previously mooted for a coupé-style variant of the X7.

Details of the mechanical package remain under wraps, although it's expected to sit on a heavily modified version of BMW’s CLAR platform. This would provide economies of scale with other large SUV models while allowing the extensive chassis changes required for serious off-road work.

The chassis is expected to borrow elements from the X5 and X7, with long-travel air suspension, up to three locking differentials, advanced four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering for agility in confined terrain and stability at higher speeds.

While BMW has planned from the outset to power its new off-roader with an internal combustion engine, officials aren't ruling out an electric version.

This would pitch the G74 against a new wave of electrified off-roaders from China, such as BYD's Yangwang U8 and GWM's Tank 700, as well as the Rivian R1S and upcoming Scout Traveler from the US.

The same senior source also revealed BMW is “closely looking at the introduction of a range-extender drivetrain”, linking back to similar developments in the pipeline for the X5, X6 and X7.

That opens the door for the G74 to adopt an advanced hybrid configuration, using an internal combustion engine purely as a generator to feed power to individual electric motors.

[RussV]

Huge $ £

[heavyD^2]

Seems like a waste of money and resources for a niche vehicle as I don't see this market needing another alternative. The G-Wagon has a bit of prestige behind it and still only sells in volumes <10k annually and while sales have been on the uptick this decade, by the time BMW gets it's version out there it's a good chance that sales of this type of vehicle will fall back to historical levels of 2-3k annually. Most of the time I see one of these it's a grocery getter driven by a trophy wife.

[Bahn360Photo]

This can be interesting!

Hopefully it’s not like electric wrangler failure

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by jphcbpa

For years I have said I wish BMW would build an SUV that sits up higher. I loved my x7 but wanted a vehicle with better seating position. Hopefully this is not a body on frame (rough ride) and they can make it similar to a range rover with off road ability but smooth luxurious ride on road (air suspension / all wheel steering)

from Autocar...

So buy an Ineos Grenadier. It has a BMW drivetrain.

[Chihuahua]

BMW dipping its toes in the water, if the water is warm they'll jump all the way in. Nothing they haven't done before, both with production cars and racing programs.

[FSHNGRY]

This would be super cool. I'd be on board for this depending on how it looks. Not that I do any off roading, but the G wagon has always been the SICKEST truck to me. I still love it and would get one if I no longer cared to be low

[Efthreeoh]

LOL. I'll keep my Bronco. Thanks

If you are an enthusiast, want a manual transmission, with decent on-road manners and excellent off-road capabilities, just get a Bronco Badlands.

This BMW will just another over-priced mall crawler.

[z1311]

Originally Posted by Longboarder

Ironically, I have a Rubicon in the USA and it sees very little offroad use, and a luxury 7 passenger 6-cyl AWD SUV in another country and fitted only with BFG Trail Terrain tires, and regularly does some unbelievable things in the mud and wet sand with crappy e-diff AWD system.

Which luxury 7 passenger SUV?

[LuisBoston]

All the hardons in this thread would’ve been blasphemy to BMW diehards 20-25 years ago.

Times change.