Will BMW build a ‘ute’?

Australians are known for their love of ‘ute’s. While globally the ‘truck’ culture picked up pace only in the last decade or so, Australians have been on it for about three decades, building pickups even on V8 sport-sedans. And BMW Australia has been trying its level best to convince the global management in Munich to build one for years now.

The BMW headquarters though, has always been feeling otherwise, and that is because a ‘ute’ doesn’t fit into the BMW brand known for its handling, performance and luxury (in that order). But now that the global markets have moved to the pickups, it is said that BMW is seeking to relook their position.

Now that its rival, Mercedes-Benz, has built the X-Class, BMW is also said to be investigating the possibility of a pickup as a concept, in the spirit of one-upmanship. With Hendrik Von Kunheim, senior VP – Asia-Pacific and Africa, having termed Mercedes’ execution of a pickup truck as appalling, we are certainly waiting to see how BMW renders their pickup truck.

Knowing BMW, it might be another SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle) rather than your regular SUV truck, something that will probably add a new dimension to the otherwise elephantine trucks. But, it might be at least a couple of years before we get a glimpse of the first official BMW ute.