BMW Plots Hardcore Seven-Seat Off-Roader to Take on G-Wagen and Defender
NEW CARS

BMW Plots Hardcore Seven-Seat Off-Roader to Take on G-Wagen and Defender

BMW is gearing up to storm the luxury off-road battlefield with an all-new flagship SUV designed to lock horns with the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and Land Rover Defender. Known internally as G74, the yet-to-be-named model will be built in Spartanburg, South Carolina, starting in 2029, sharing production lines with the X5, X6, and X7.

Unlike today’s X5 Off-Road Package, the G74 isn’t a lightly tweaked soft-roader—it’s BMW’s first model conceived for serious off-pavement use in nearly a century. A senior BMW executive confirmed development is “well under way,” noting that it’s “more than just discussions” and that an internal combustion engine is a certainty at launch.

Design and Capability: Rugged Meets Neue Klasse

While its design remains under wraps, expect a mix of Neue Klasse design language with classic, blocky 4×4 cues. Engineers are targeting greater ground clearance, long-travel suspension, and approach/departure/breakover angles that surpass anything in BMW’s current lineup.

Inside, the G74 will offer three-row seating for seven and a cabin that outshines the X7 in both materials and tech. It’s expected to carry either a new nameplate or potentially revive the X8 badge originally planned for a coupe-styled SUV.

Under the Skin: CLAR, Evolved for the Wild

Underpinning the G74 will be a heavily modified CLAR platform, chosen for its scalability and compatibility with large BMW SUVs. Mechanical highlights are likely to include long-travel air suspension, up to three locking differentials, advanced AWD, and even four-wheel steering—not only for rock-crawling agility, but also for high-speed stability.

Powertrains: ICE, Hybrid, and Maybe Electric

BMW plans to launch with a combustion engine, but multiple electrification strategies are on the table. Among them:

  • Range-extender hybrid: Using an engine solely as a generator to power electric motors, a setup BMW is developing in collaboration with ZF.
  • Full EV: Potentially rivaling upcoming electric off-roaders like the Rivian R1S, Scout Traveler, and China’s BYD Yangwang U8.
  • Hub motors: Compact in-wheel units co-developed with DeepDrive, which could unlock extreme maneuverability.

The range-extender angle is particularly appealing for markets like China, where demand for such drivetrains is booming—especially after lukewarm sales of the electric G-Class.

A Return to BMW’s Off-Road Roots

The G74’s spiritual predecessor is the BMW 325 military off-roader of 1937–1940. Built on a ladder-frame chassis with 4WD, three locking diffs, and early four-wheel steering, it was a technical showcase for its time. Only 3,225 were built, but its legacy as BMW’s last true go-anywhere machine looms large.

With the G74, BMW isn’t just building another SUV—it’s re-entering a segment dominated by icons, aiming to prove that Munich can do more than autobahn stormers. If they get it right, the G-Class and Defender might finally have some serious Bavarian competition.

Source: Automotive News