BMW may replace XM with Defender-rivalling 4WD with adapted X5 platform and hardcore off-road tech

BMW is seriously weighing a chase to shift the waste finish of its X-badged SUV lineup into the burgeoning luxury off-roading section, though executives are yet to be succesful to add a remaining signature to ship the last BMW SUV to manufacturing.

Speaking with Chasing Autos on the enviornment premiere of the BMW i3 sedan in Munich, BMW head of Neue Klasse devices Dr Mike Reichelt acknowledged the stamp is having a sight at opportunities to push the boundaries of its lineup.

“In principle, we sight on the market, and we sight at strategies to build bigger our product portfolio,” Reichelt acknowledged. “That is a strategic option, on each day foundation.”

Previously damaged by trade newsletter Car News, BMW’s thought — internally dubbed ‘Mission Rugged’ could perchance perchance sight to interchange the XM halo model with a beefed-up 4wd by 2029.

BMW executives maintain accepted escalating interest for SUVs of all sizes, and particular consideration has been given to position a question to for high-margin, high-functionality luxury off-roaders treasure the Mercedes G-Class, Fluctuate Rover, and Lexus LX.

“What we’re additionally seeing is that the pattern towards SUV, SAV, that is now no longer changing,” acknowledged BMW’s sales head for the Asia-Pacific, Africa, Jap Europe and Center East markets Ritu Chandy, noting the latter keep’s interest in hitting the sand dunes.

Whereas Neue Klasse boss Reichelt acknowledged “no resolution” had yet been made, he shared with Chasing Autos that there are originate questions for the project.

“In principle, Neue Klasse expertise would additionally be doable to mix in this kind of car,” Reichelt acknowledged.

“However there are barely just a few questions. Is it a totally electrical automobile most effective, or attain we employ one other architecture that we now maintain?”

The reason the platform quiz is being requested is because BMW’s well-known-hyped Neue Klasse platform has hardened as an EV-most effective proposition.

The smartly-regarded Cluster Structure (CLAR) platform, which first regarded in 2015, will continue in service at BMW for some devices which need to serene be in a space to simply glean EV, petrol, diesel and hybrid engines on one manufacturing line.

Alternatively, CLAR has been modernised to simply glean the superbrain zonal computing expertise developed by Reichelt’s team for Neue Klasse devices.

That could perchance perchance indicate that a rugged BMW 4wd based totally on CLAR would be smarter than any existing X5, X7 or XM model — but treasure those vehicles, it will in all probability in all probability perchance serene glean six- or eight-cylinder combustion engines with or and not using a hybrid machine.

A truly electrical version would additionally be doable if keep a question to for an EV four-wheel force became found to be real ample in future.

Exhaust of the unibody CLAR platform would build a BMW 4wd extra the same in execution to a Fluctuate Rover or Rivian than to a physique automobile treasure a G-Class or Toyota Land Cruiser.

With a doable open date of 2029 talked about in trade media, remaining calls on these questions would want to serene be made rapidly.

Key rival Audi is in a the same space, with the Ingolstadt-based totally stamp additionally investigating whether to enter the Fluctuate Rover section with a hardcore off-roader of its enjoy.

Audi could perchance adopt the ladder-physique platform and electrified powertrains developed by Volkswagen Neighborhood stamp Scout Motors, with an accessible combustion differ-extender to elevate battery worth.

That could perchance perchance space Audi’s entrant as EV-first, with combustion having fun with a supporting role.

That’s a markedly numerous means to BMW’s “Expertise Openness” draw, which is able to sight the stamp provide pure-ICE and toddle-in hybrid drivetrains as a exchange to EV in segments the keep buyer keep a question to serene favours combustion.

In difference, a CLAR-based totally BMW off-roader would likely be pushed primarily by its combustion engine.

Editor’s expose: The lead photography for this story had been generated with the support of synthetic intelligence