Is The BMW M2 Dakar A Joke Or A Genius Idea?

Carmakers love to play pranks on us every April Fool's Day, revealing outrageous "concepts" that are just believable enough to make you pause. BMW decided to play prankster this year with the BMW M2 Dakar, a lifted, off-road-ready version of the M2 coupe that looks both ridiculous and oddly appealing.

BMW’s Instagram post showed off a jacked-up M2 riding on chunky off-road tires, complete with body mods that actually seem kind of functional. The front and rear fenders have massive vents hacked into them, supposedly for cooling the brakes in the harsh desert heat.

There are front and rear skid plates to protect that 473-hp 3.0-liter inline-six and limited-slip differential. And in a true nod to hardcore rally style, the roof basket carries a spare wheel and an emergency fuel can—because, of course, every off-roader needs spares.

Honestly, with how polarizing the M2’s design has been, some folks might say the Dakar actually looks better than the stock car. That lifted stance and rugged accessories give it a vibe that’s more “serious adventure machine” than “edgy track toy.”

Let’s be real—this is probably just an April Fool’s Day joke. However, with the emergence of production cars such as the Porsche 911 Dakar, it's difficult to ignore the possibility that BMW might be exploring this concept. Maybe the BMW M2 Dakar Concept isn’t such a crazy idea after all.