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Thinking Outside the Unibody
After a BMW patent application for a ladder-frame chassis was published, speculation grew that the Bavarian automaker could be working on a rival to the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, which has long ruled the luxury off-road segment. It may be unconfirmed, and no official design details are available; that didn't stop kelsonik from imagining one.
The digital artist shared renderings on Instagram showing what a BMW-badged 4x4 SUV could look like. To make them more interesting, the G-Class was also placed alongside the unofficial BMW, giving viewers a better comparison between the two. Without a doubt, the renderings draw from BMW’s Neue Klasse design language.
The Neue Klasse Gets Muddy
The front end looks like it was borrowed directly from the BMW iX3, a Neue Klasse-based electric vehicle scheduled to enter the U.S. market in September. What separates the rendered SUV – codenamed G74 – is its off-road bumper and what appears to be a skid plate designed to protect the underbody while off-roading.
An interesting difference between the two is their overall shape, with the BMW SUV looking more crossover-like, similar to how the Ford Bronco Sport differs from the Bronco. While the Mercedes-Benz G-Class retains its unmistakably boxy design and timeless cues such as round headlights, the unofficial BMW looks more forward-looking.
While no interior renderings were shared, powertrain details also remain unconfirmed. Reports suggest a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 plug-in-hybrid system could be used. In the XM Label, that produces 738 horsepower, making it the brand's most powerful vehicle from the factory. Given the demanding task of off-roading, such power would surely be handy.
The Trail to Bigger Profits
BMW hasn’t produced a modern vehicle with a ladder-frame chassis, making the rumored project particularly interesting. Given the popularity of rugged, lifestyle-oriented SUVs in recent years, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the automaker pursue a piece of that market. Even Audi is considering a rugged, body-on-frame SUV that could use architecture from fellow Volkswagen Group brand Scout Motors.
If the project gets the green light, reports suggest production could begin in the second half of 2029 at BMW’s Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, where its X Sports Activity Vehicles are built, including the X3, X5, and X7.
