New Mercedes-Benz G-Class OFFICIALLY Revealed

The 2018 Mercedes-Benz G-Class has been officially revealed, with styling which changes very little but a raft of technology updates to make it future proof and more able.

Land Rover has been struggling for years with how to bring the Land Rover Defender in to the 21st century. But Mercedes has no qualms about what to do with the almost as iconic G-Class; simply leave it the same but make it better in every way.

Revealed ahead of its public debut this week at the Detroit Motor Show (although leaked photos of the new G-Class had left us in no doubt), the new G-Class is simply a refined version of a very familiar off-road icon, and certainly the best way to go for the very able G-Class.

Not only is the styling of the G-Class only modestly updated, but familiar G-Class trademarks – like the door closing noise, ‘stuck on’ indicators and old-fashioned door handles – remain intact too, although panel gaps improve and it looks less bolted together from bits and more of a cohesive whole.

The interior of the G-Class, however, is very much updated (as Mercedes revealed before Christmas) with a rugged take on the interior you might find on an E-Class (already revealed), although the passenger grab handle and chrome switches for the diff locks are still present and correct.

The increased size of the new G-Class (its 53mm longer and 121mm wider) means more space in the cabin, more adjustment for the seats and a big load area with the backs seats folded flat.

Mercedes has also worked to make the G-Class more refined on-road, and although the ladder chassis remains there’s a new aluminium body structure and new front suspension developed with AMG including independent front suspension with double wishbones.

Apart from increased on-road refinement, it also means increased ground clearance, deeper wading depth and increased approach and departure angles.

Steering is now by an electromechanical rack and there’s the usual Mercedes selection of drive modes, plus a bespoke G-Mode for off-roading which brings in to play the three diff locks and low-range gearing.

Engine options are the AMG G63 which gets the 4.0 litre V8 petrol with 603bhp and 627lb/ft of torque, a G 500 with a de-tuned version of the 4.0 litre V8 (which might not make it to the UK) and a 350 d with Mercedes’ 2.9 litre V6 turbodiesel with 282bhp and 443lb/ft of torque. All come with Mercedes’ 9G-Tronic automatic gearbox.

First to arrive in the summer is likely to be the AMG G 63 costing around £135,000. with the G 350 d not expected until 2019.