The carmaker says rugged SUVs have become a global phenomenon, but a pickup truck is beyond the mark
May 6, 2024 at 06:29
- The company introduced its latest pickup truck concept in 2019, based on an X7.
- Demand for vehicles like the Land Rover Defender and Toyota Land Cruiser could prompt BMW to develop a rugged SUV.
- The X3 and X4 are considered possible candidates for a robust makeover.
BMW has hinted that it is ready to launch a more robust SUV due to the growing demand for such vehicles. However, there are no plans to launch a pickup truck.
The German brand has toyed with the idea of a pickup truck in the past, building a handful of prototypes over the decades, most recently in 2019 with a dedicated X7 truck. However, Bernd Körber, Senior Vice President BMW Brand and Product Management, said in a recent interview with the BMW Blog that a pickup truck does not fit the brand.
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“I think a pickup transcends the brand,” he said. “Basically, I would say that for a brand like BMW to stand out, we need niche models, to build cars that are dream cars and really bring out the essence of BMW.”
While it would have been cool if BMW had released a pickup truck, a rugged SUV would be a much better fit. The brand already builds a range of powerful and versatile high-riding models and could transform one of them into a robust off-roader.
Körber said the brand was aware of the growing popularity of models such as the Toyota Land Cruiser and Land Rover Defender and noted that there was a global demand for these vehicles.
“Rugged is an interesting trend because it has evolved from a US, South African and Australian phenomenon to a global phenomenon,” he said.
While Körber did not provide any information on which vehicle a robust BMW SUV could be based on, BMW Blog considers the X3 and X5 to be suitable candidates. Depending on how far the automaker wants to go, they could simply raise the ride height of one of their SUVs, install some skid plates, add some wheel arch flares and be done with it. Alternatively, a more serious approach could be taken with more significant improvements such as limited slip differentials, new axles and more powerful engines.
