BMW Could Be Building a G-Class Rival

Have Pigs Started Flying?

If we were to name cars we least expected from manufacturers, we could list down a few prime examples. There's the Porsche Cayenne that inspired more specialty manufacturers to build SUVs, and the Audi R8, which was the last thing we thought the folks from Ingolstadt would actually produce. And let's not forget the impact of the original Lexus LS, which showcased Toyota's true engineering might at the time.

Then we get to BMW. Sure, it made the occasional special model here and there, but it all felt like a natural progression from the brand's ethos. However, a recent patent spotted by CarBuzz will be a shock to the senses for the BMW faithful, or probably even everyone. The Bavarians have filed a patent for, wait for it, a ladder frame chassis.

The Rumored G-Class Rival

About a year ago, it was reported that BMW intends to build a potential rival to the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. At the time, it was said that it could replace the slow-selling XM, making it more of an alternative to the G63 AMG. The thing is, the Mercedes-Benz is a body-on-frame SUV, and BMW has zero experience in that field.

Still, that hasn't stopped the company from having a crack at it, at least in patent form. The fact that BMW filed it is a signal of its intention to build a more rugged vehicle. This development also aligns with the report of the company planning to make off-road-oriented versions of its current crossovers, and this ladder frame patent could serve as the basis for a potential flagship model.

Not BMW's First Ladder Frame

As BMW is over a century old, of course, it made body-on-frame vehicles. The company only shifted to unibody/monocoque chassis in 1959, and hasn't looked back since...at least until the 2010s. Technically speaking, the i3 (the original one, not the electric 3 Series) had a body-on-frame design, mainly serving as a mounting point for its electric drive components.

This is still a patent, though, and it doesn't necessarily mean BMW will build it for real. Still, as mentioned, there is at least an intent, and it's something the company can put in its back pocket when the time is right.

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This story was originally published May 2, 2026 at 7:00 AM.