A new flagship SUV is reportedly in the works, promising rugged capability, luxury appeal, and the potential to rival the toughest off-road icons
BMW’s SUV portfolio is already one of the most extensive in the market, covering everything from small crossovers to full-size luxury models and even an M special. Yet there’s still one gap in the lineup: a truly rugged, go-anywhere off-roader that could rival the Mercedes G-Class, Lexus LX, or Range Rover.
That void may not last much longer, with reports pointing to a new flagship SUV expected to arrive in 2029.
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Inside sources speaking to Autonews suggest this off-road-focused BMW will enter production in the second half of that year. A company spokesperson declined to comment on the project, but the model is reportedly slated for assembly at BMW’s Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, home to production of the X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, and XM.
Built for Rough Terrain
Internally known as the G74, the SUV is said to ride on the next-generation X5’s unibody platform rather than the larger X7’s. That choice should help improve its capability on challenging terrain. With the electric Mercedes G-Class struggling to find buyers, BMW is expected to stick with internal combustion power for its off-roader.
Recent releases like the X5 Silver Anniversary Edition, which comes standard with the xOffroad package, show BMW’s increasing interest in the adventurous SUV space. It is safe to assume that the new model will adopt more rugged looks, beefed-up suspension, and more specialized off-road software allowing it to tackle challenging terrains without flinching.
Shifting the Halo XM Model
This upcoming SUV could take the place of the XM at the top of BMW’s lineup, but with a completely different mission. The XM, notable for being the first standalone BMW M model since the M1 supercar, is unlikely to see a direct replacement. According to AutoForecast Solutions, production could end as soon as November 2028, just five years after its launch.
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BMW appears to believe that a rugged SUV will resonate more with high-end buyers than the road-focused XM. The strategy shifts its aim squarely at the Mercedes G-Class audience, moving away from competing with the Lamborghini Urus. Even so, there is a possibility of an M-badged variant of the new off-roader, positioned to deliver a performance character reminiscent of the Mercedes-AMG G63.
According to Edmunds, convincing G-Class owners to switch will be no easy task. In the US, 65 percent of G-Class trade-ins end up with another Mercedes, making this a fiercely loyal customer base.
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Thanos Pappas, a product design engineer by trade, has been wading through automotive journalism for… Read full bio
