Is Another Major German Carmaker Cooking Up Its Own Off-Road G-Wagen AMG Rival?

BMW M could be breaking with tradition and the pavement for the first time, ever.

Close-up of a green BMW X5 M front grille with black kidney grills and a European license plate.

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Published April 3, 2026

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Updated April 3, 2026

BMW M cars are known for devouring pavement like no other, but that could be changing very soon. According to another report and interview with the brand’s head honcho, the famed motorsports division also has aspirations to take its efforts off-road.

Speaking with CarExpert, BMW M’s chief Frank van Meel confirmed the department’s open-mindedness to explore the luxury four-wheeling space. But, with the added spice and extra performance of the Bavarian finishing school.

And it could very much have its sights set on proverbial examples like the old Range Rover Supercharged, the Land Rover Defender OCTA and even the Mercedes-AMG Geländewagen.

Hoping to conquer both on and off the road

Two silver BMW SUVs parked on a grassy hill under a cloudy sky with sunlight on the right side. — BMW teased its off-roading aspirations with the current X5 and the limited Silver Edition, which came with the model’s first-ever “off-road package.”

When pressed for an answer, van Meel confirmed the prospect, noting that nothing is off the table. What’s more, BMW M could be looking to substantiate the project by entering some of the world’s most prominent off-roading competitions.

Because, well, that’s what BMW M is all about, motorsports.

“I could imagine M on off-road products, because if you come from racing there’s not only the WEC and IMSA, but the Paris-Dakar,” van Meel remarked.

White BMW SUV splashing mud while driving on a wet forest trail with headlights on. — We tried the X5 Silver Edition on some muddy trails, where it performed a lot better than expected.

Because BMW M roots its origins in motorsports, they’re no strangers to the world’s leading road race competitions. Such includes the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and America’s International Motor Sports Association (IMSA).

But van Meel noted that BMW M may also be interested in entering the equally iconic Paris-Dakar rally (which is now only known as the Dakar rally, since it no longer starts in France). It remains one of the most respected multi-surface competitions in all the land.

Gray BMW X5 SUV driving uphill on a dusty mountain trail with rocky terrain and clear sky. — The X5 may be an SUV engineered for the road, but it’s evolved to gain more versatility.

Its participation in races like Paris-Dakar could also serve as inspiration for production-ready performance off-roaders. BMW itself has history with Dakar, particularly with Mini under its belt and its motorcycle division being a well-known participant.

“But, as you know, we don’t have any off-road vehicles at BMW for Paris-Dakar, even though you can take an X5,” van Meel continued. “We offer driving experiences with the X5, by the way, in Namibia, so you can use our cars off-road.”

A BMW off-roader is still happening

Silver BMW SUV with roof cargo box parked on dirt with sand dunes in the background at sunset. — Do you think the world could use a performance off-roader from the M division?

BMW has been rumored to be working on a new dedicated off-roader for some time. The latest development focuses more on a potential high-performance M variant.

Van Meel is confident the outfit’s expertise can also translate to the off-roading space. Especially since BMW’s already started experimenting with the X5 off-road package on the limited Silver Edition.

Although BMW M made a name for itself through pavement performance kings, the company does have the talent to make some serious trailblazers. Such expertise came from the brief time when BMW owned Land Rover and both co-developed the L322 Range Rover.

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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