BMW is taking an important step toward developing a rival for the Mercedes-Benz G-Class by filing a patent for a modern ladder-frame chassis with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA). BMW’s first true off-roader, codenamed G74, is expected to appear by the end of the decade.
Photo: BMW/German Patent office, Computer picture: Marian Cilibeanu (https://www.instagram.com/marianvalentincilibeanu/)
In the summer of 2025, Mercedesblog reported that BMW was working on a genuine off-roader under the codename G74. Even before that, rumors had been circulating that BMW planned to launch a true off-road vehicle by the end of the decade to compete with the Mercedes G-Class, Jeep Wrangler and the Land Rover Defender.
While last year the idea of a BMW off-roader was still just speculation, things are now taking shape. BMW has filed patent number DE 10 2024 130 768.4 with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office, referring to a modern ladder-frame chassis designed for a potential off-road vehicle.
However, BMW does not intend to simply copy the G-Class. Instead, the company aims to achieve industrial efficiency and a cost structure that would make the project profitable, even though the new architecture is not expected to be produced in very high volumes.
To achieve this, BMW designed the chassis so that crossbeams and diagonally arranged connecting elements can be manufactured identically, reducing complexity and costs. Additionally, although initially only one model (G74) was mentioned, the chassis has been designed with adjustable dimensions in both length and width.
This means BMW could produce models of various sizes on this architecture. In practical terms, making a slightly bold comparison, BMW could potentially build not only a rival to the G-Class but also something closer in size and concept to the Suzuki Jimny.
The solution of using flexible architectures rather than shared platforms (where multiple major components such as batteries, motors, and axles are combined without fixed dimensional constraints) is already being successfully used by BMW in many current models. This refers to the CLAR architecture, which underpins models ranging from the 3 Series to the 7 Series and from the X3 to the X7.
Returning to the patent filed by BMW, the big surprise is that it makes no reference to conventional propulsion, focusing instead on electric propulsion. In the project outline, BMW describes how batteries and electric motors are integrated. This suggests that the chassis may be optimized specifically for electric models—something not done before, as about 99% of electric vehicles use “skateboard” architectures with the battery integrated into the car’s structure.
The Mercedes G-Class EQ does not use a dedicated architecture but is based on a modified version of the conventional G-Class platform.
The fact that BMW’s project focuses only on integrating electric motors and batteries does not exclude plug-in hybrid propulsion, thanks to the flexibility of the structure. Not only is the structure flexible, but BMW also uses a wider variety of materials than the Mercedes G-Class, such as carbon fiber-reinforced plastic alongside aluminum and steel.
Of course, the G74 is designed with all the attributes of an off-roader: higher ground clearance, locking differentials, and robust axles. The electric version is expected to have four electric motors, similar to the G 580 EQ.
Although it may seem illogical, BMW M boss Franciscus van Meel does not rule out an M version based on an off-roader, referring to high-performance models from the Dakar Rally.
Such a model could serve as a successor—though not a direct one—to the BMW XM, which has been selling poorly, especially in the USA.
As for the design, BMW’s off-roader will be positioned in the luxury segment alongside the BMW X7 and the 7 Series. For now, there is no prototype, but it is expected to feature a front end with the new monolithic design language promoted by the facelifted 7 Series.
Production would take place at the Spartanburg plant, which is BMW’s largest factory in the world and also the site where all of the brand’s major SUVs are produced: X3, X4, X5, X6, and X7. Manufacturing in the USA makes sense, as this is also the largest market for such models.
The luxury off-road vehicle market is currently growing, which has given BMW an additional reason to explore this niche. In 2025, the Mercedes G-Class achieved a sales record of 49,700 units, not including military versions sold to various national armies. Additionally, the Jeep Wrangler—now available in Europe only as the PHEV 4xe version—and the Land Rover Defender have recorded exceptional sales results.
The Land Rover Defender became the best-selling Land Rover model in fiscal year 2025 with 115,404 units, while Jeep Wrangler sales increased by 13.23% in 2025, reaching 127,784 units.
