The incoming ‘baby’ Mercedes-Benz G-Class will sit on a bespoke ladder-frame platform, use “nearly all unique” parts and sport a design that “is even more modern than the current car”, bosses have said.
The new SUV will arrive within the next two years and will be the entry point to what is planned to be a new range of models, with Mercedes turning the G-Class into a brand in its own right – in much the same way JLR has done with Range Rover.
Speaking at the Munich show, Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius said test mules would be appearing on roads “very soon”. A new preview image of the incoming model’s rear end was also revealed.
The ‘Mini G’ will be based on a unique architecture, confirmed tech boss Markus Schäfer, in order to be “as authentic as possible”.
He added: “The G is a very special, authentic car, and the Mini G has to be authentic. So I cannot take just a platform, I cannot take an existing platform – I have to create my own. It’s a completely new development.”
Schäfer called the platform a “miniature ladder-frame chassis”, which he described as being “not ladder-frame [to the G-Class’s] extent”, but with similar qualities “when it comes to suspension and wheel size”.
Schäfer also revealed that the Mini G will use a signifi cant number of unique components, “far more than I ever wish to tell you”. These include most of the model’s bodywork.
He said: “Over time, just looking at the car’s capabilities and what’s needed, I came to the conclusion that everything has to be unique, the whole upper body and everything.
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interesting move, but the market is already crowded. Defender Sport, Bronco Sport, even Toyota's Land Cruiser 250 coming back. Gonna be interesting to see where Merc positions this. @golf hit
To the Autocar 'artist'...I wouldn't say that's your crowning glory, would you?
I was getting quite excited about this for my wife's next car....until I read the propulsion statement.
So thats killed it for me!