BMW's SUV Lineup Is Getting Ready To Go Where It Was Never Meant To

The demand is so great that even BMW, a company more focused on performance on pavement, is apparently looking at adding some dirt-oriented variations to their SUVs.

BMW Is Looking At Its Whole Range For These Models
This report comes to us from BMWBlog. The outlet says that the German automaker is considering off-road versions of a wide variety of existing SUVs from entry-level to flagship. It sounds as though the idea may be at a pretty early stage, and just how different the models could be is still being decided. So they could range from the bare-minimum that we've already talked about to something more thoroughly developed. We could also see the capabilities vary from model to model. Entry-level models could just get the style and tire treatment to keep them affordable, while higher-end models could do more, such as use height-adjustable suspension, since buyers are more likely to afford them.

They Would Complement The G-Wagen Fighter
These aren't the only off-road models BMW has planned. Farther in the planning and development process is something with the code name G74. We learned of this vehicle just a couple of weeks ago, and it will be a model designed from the ground-up to be off-road-capable, and could be a more direct competitor to the Land Rover Defender and Mercedes-Benz G-Class. That model will apparently launch in 2029 and be built in the US.

We'll be curious to see if G74 precedes or follows BMW's modified models. The company could probably get toughened-up versions of just about any of its models on the market more quickly than the G74. Some new suspension tuning, different trim pieces, and a set of tires don't take long to sort out compared to a whole car, nor do they require any kind of recertification, such as with emissions testing. Plus, as stable as the off-road craze has been, it's risky to assume that it will stay that way for upwards of half a decade. So striking while the iron is hot could be prudent.

On the other hand, if BMW could get the G74 out first, it could provide a halo effect to other upgraded models, making them more desirable, especially if their names echoed the G74. The smart move might be to preview the production G74 by a year or two with a concept, and get G74-inspired variants of, say, the X3 or X5, on the market ahead of it. Then BMW could get some of the halo effect while also getting products on the market as soon as possible. Of course, this is just us playing product manager. We'll have to wait and see what BMW really does.