In 2016, for the first time after 37 years since the initial launch, Mercedes will present a complete new generation of the G-Class.
Initially built as a military vehicle by the cue of the Iranian Shah, one of the biggest shareholders in Mercedes in the seventies, the G-Class – one of the few off-road cars for private individuals with three differential locks – has become, as the time passed, a luxury object most wanted by football players, artists and business men.
Built at the Steyr-Daimler-Puch plant in Graz, the G-Class has an undying design with its silhouette that resembles a majestic and heavy box, entirely different compared to the shape of the nowadays SUVs. For those who can afford it, the driving position with the steering wheel very close to the door, the heavy weight and wind noise matter less.
From 2016, Mercedes will continue to provide the 461 model for the military purposes as there is still enough demand coming from the major world armies. 36 armies from all over the world, from the USA to Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France (The Peugeot P4 model is in fact a G-Class equipped with Peugeot engines) to Argentina, Mexico, Malaysia, Australia, countries that use the military version of the G-Class. It is important to mention that Australia is the only country in the world that has received a 6×6 version with two and four doors, the 6×6 G-Class being the first Mercedes with six-wheel drive that has been built from 1941 till the present. This model underlaid the G 63 AMG 6×6 prototype. Starting 2016, Mercedes prepares, for the first time in the G-Class history, a completely new generation. It could be said that it is not the first time, because the current model code 463 does not fit the original 460 (461 is the code for the military version). Explanation: In 1990, Mercedes underwent significant changes at the drivetrain, the 4×4 system, the engines, safety and, regarding the interior, it conferred a new code number, even though the platform is basically the same.
Read more about Mercedes G 63 AMG 6×6
Instead, the 463 model aimed at private individuals will be completely rebuilt and the major change is the 10 cm widened body, that will eventually have 186cm. This way, the G-Class will provide more interior space and a more comfortable driving position, due to the space increase between the steering wheel and the driver’s door.
10 cm
widened body for the future G-Class
The added 10 cm width will provide more stability on the road. In order to stand out clearly from the ML and the GL, the quadratic design will not suffer changes. The emblematic round headlamps, the quadratic shape of the body with sharp edges and the vertical tailgate will be unchangeable. Instead, the aerodynamics will be enhanced for the fuel efficiency and for the wind noise reduction.
Completely new: widened body and an aluminum chassis
For the first time, the chassis will be built of aluminum, that will allow weight reduction with about 375 kg. One of the adjustments made to the G 63 AMG is the addition of the electric power steering instead of the traditional hydraulic unit. As a Mercedes, the G-Class features all the modern assistance systems, which can be found today in the S-Class, for instance: the Distronic Plus cruise control system, Active Lane Assist, Traffic Jam, intelligent parking and intelligent LED headlamps.
The S-Class assistance systems will also be available in the G-Class
The new G Class generation will have two types of engines with six cylinders 3-litre from the new generation: a petrol one with 367 hp and 480 Nm and a biturbo diesel with 313 hp and 620 Nm. In addition to this, a new 4.7 litre V8 biturbo will be available in G 500, with approximately 450 hp and 600 Nm. According to the tradition, another new AMG powerful premium version will also be available. This version will put up the new V8 biturbo 4-litre AMG, producing 570 hp. The transmissions also underwent a few changes. Until 2016, Mercedes has more than enough time to enhance the 9-speed gear box, that will also be produced in Romania, in Sebes, precisely. Thus, the new 9-speed transmission will replace the current 7-speed one.
