BMW plotting to go after the Mercedes-Benz G-Class

BMW is reportedly cooking up a rival for the insanely successful Mercedes-Benz G-Class, the 600,000th unit of which just rolled off the production line.

According to a report by Automotive News, the go-anywhere, all-terrain Beemer will ride on an upgraded version of the X5’s platform and has been internally codenamed ‘G74’ – on the nose much?

The outlet cites anonymous contacts within BMW who claim the G-Class slayer will go into production in the second half of 2029 and serve as an indirect replacement for the underperforming XM which is tipped to be axed in 2028.

A key difference between the G74 and the G-Class it’s hoping to topple will be their constructions; the Merc is a traditional body-on-frame while the BM will adopt a Range Rover-style monocoque set-up.

It’s anyone’s guess as to what will power the mystery model, but odds are it will be mightily powerful if it’s destined to replace the XM – our money’s on a modified version of the XM’s twin-turbo V8 PHEV system.

As per the X5, primary production will reportedly be out of BMW’s Spartanburg plant in South Carolina.

BMW is hardly known for its off-road exploits but has at least dipped its toe into the adventure realm with the North America-only X5 Silver Anniversary Edition which came with the xOffroad Package: raised suspension, a rear differential lock, extra underbody protection, xSnow, xSand, xGravel, and xRocks driving modes, xOffroad camera and the option of all-terrain tyres.

If the new model is to be taken seriously as an off-roader it will need multiple locking differentials (centre and rear at least), low-range gearing, long-travel suspension, an appropriately arranged engine bay, waterproof electronics, generous angles and a proper mechanical 4x4 system as opposed to a fancy all-wheel drive set-up.

Odds are BMW will throw the kitchen sink at the G74 when it comes to tech and creature comforts, thereby gifting it an asking price fitting of a flagship large SUV – read north of $300,000.

* Lead image generated by AI

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