A seemingly official product roadmap from Mercedes-Benz has given the strongest indication yet that a mini version of the G-Class off-road wagon is on its way soon.
Dubbed the ‘g’-Class – with a lower case ‘g’ denoting its diminutive size – the SUV will fulfil the role of the 2012 Ener-G-Force concept, but likely swapping out that vehicle’s softened aesthetics to one that more closely mirrors the larger wagon that rappers and ‘socialites’ (whatever that means) seem to love.
Set to debut in 2026, the g-Class is likely to use the brand’s revolutionary new MMA platform, which will debut under the new CLA this year – a car that promises many leaps forward in electrical architecture and promises price parity between EV and hybrid models, according to an Autocar report.
Using powertrains developed by Geely, a new ‘M252’ 1.5-litre engine is likely to be included, with 48V starter-generator technology, albeit with some off-road functionality to emulate its bigger brother.
The graphic, posted by liucunyi_starandcar on Instagram shows a pyramid of G-Class hierarchy. At the top sits ‘One-off Art Piece’ alluding to bespoke items for the most ostentatious of customers. One rung down, special editions in the vein of the Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet – a model that sold for around AU$1.9million in 2017.
A capital G on the second-lowest tier of the pyramid splits the traditional G-Class into off-road, performance and fully-electric.
At the lower half of the presentation slide, the next generation E-Class electric confirms earlier reports that Mercedes-Benz will move away from plans to develop a new MB.EA architecture for successors of these cars, instead adopting a strategy similar to BMW, whereby electric versions of the E- and S-Class share an aesthetic and platform with their ICE counterparts.
Among the headings, next-generation ADAS with level 2++ and Level 3 Highway operation is mooted. Level 3 Automation refers to a scenario where no intervention or monitoring is required by the driver, until prompted.
