BMW Can "Imagine" A Place For An Off-Roader In Its Lineup

BMW doesn't do off-roading. The brand has dabbled, of course, in the years since the introduction of its first SUVs. Those, to be sure, could go off pavement, but serious capability where the pavement ends is something that has never really been a priority for the automaker. It's chosen to focus on on-road performance and luxury, and the approach has brought the automaker some serious success. However, some at the brand have noticed the recent trend in off-road vehicles: everyone's got one, and brand who previously couldn't have cared less, like Honda, are now buying in.

BMW's M head could "imagine" an off-roader

Speaking to Australia's CarExpert, BMW M boss Frank van Meel said it's not hard to imagine the brand wading into the segment using its M subbrand. The marque has a storied history of racing, and one that would be well represented in an off-road model wearing the famed M badge: " I could imagine M on off-road products. If you come from racing, there’s not only the World Endurance Championship and International Motor Sports Association sports car categories, but also the Paris-Dakar Rally."

The Paris-Dakar (now simply: Dakar, as it no longer takes place between the French and Senegalese capitals) is the world's most well-known off-road race, where buggies, cars, bikes, trucks, and SUVs can compete across long off-road courses in the African desert.

The brand already has some off-road experiences available to buyers, too, as Van Meel pointed out: "But, as you know, we don’t have any off-road vehicles at BMW for Paris-Dakar, even though you can take an X5 – we offer driving experiences with the X5, by the way, in Namibia – so you can use our cars off-road."

BMW dipped its toe in last year

BMW has dabbled previously, with last year's BMW X5 Silver Anniversary Edition (pictured). It was basically an X5 with some all-terrain tires and a bit of software on top - really the bare minimum these days - but came out to be surprisingly capable. Those big wheels are a concern off-road, but the model managed to tackle a decent amount of off-road terrain with surprising ease, owing largely to its height-adjustable air suspension and upgraded tires.

Reportedly, more production vehicles are headed this way, too. There's a rumor circulating that the brand is finally looking to step up and challenge neighboring Mercedes' G-Class SUV, long held to be the German off-road vehicle. Originally built for the German army, the G-Class evolved into a luxury off-roader that few have been able to take on with any real success. Should BMW try, an off-road bent is sure to be a factor. For now, though, you'll have to settle for that X5 if you want an off-road BMW.