Could This Smaller Benz Square Up Against the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco?
The Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen has been a fixture in hip-hop videos, wealthy Americans’ driveways, and, of course, the Kardashian family for decades. It began as a basic, paramilitary 4×4 and has evolved into a pricey fashion accessory. The combination of its status symbolism and respectable off-road ability—a frequently underutilized ability—clearly appeals to wealthy car buyers. But what if you want to participate in the Gelndewagen lore but lack the necessary funds? Good news, it looks like a more accessible “baby” It’s possible that the G-Wagen will launch soon and have a much more affordable starting MSRP than the full-size model’s lofty $133,250.
According to a report from Handelsblatt (subscription and translation required), Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius is bullish about producing a smaller “offshoot” to the G-class that would look similar but be shorter in height and have a shorter wheelbase. The SUV would not only have a similar styling to the G-class, according to internal sources that the German outlet spoke with. The sources also said that Källenius “absolutely” wants it to happen but at the moment there is no official word from Therefore, we will categorize this as a rumor for the time being. Mercedes-Benz.
According to the report, the smaller G-Class-inspired SUV will be constructed on the Mercedes Modular Architecture (MMA), which will also serve as the basis for the upcoming CLA. You may have already guessed this, but if this baby G-wagon is approved, it will most likely be a BEV with a range of just over 300 miles and fast charging capabilities thanks to the 800-volt system reportedly paired with all MMA platform EVs. (That would also set it apart from the GLB-Class, a compact SUV that Benz used as some of the G-Class’s inspiration but which otherwise lacks overt off-road capabilities.) The new MB.OS operating system and UI will also likely be included with the SUV. On paper, everything looks good, but at the moment, everything is just rumor, and Mercedes is remaining silent on the subject.
If it’s as small as those (not-so-small) SUVs, or at the very least is smaller than Land Rover’s Defender, a smaller G-class-like EV with excellent range could do wonders for the automaker against vehicles like the Jeep Wrangler 4xe hybrid. It could also outperform an electric Ford Bronco at the start of the race. If Mercedes-Benz can create a small G-wagon EV and keep the MSRP in the $55,000 to $65,000 range, it will have a major impact on the medium electrified SUV market.
According to the report, Källenius is encountering some internal resistance when driving a baby G-wagon, but it doesn’t say why. From our vantage point, an electric G-wagon that is smaller and more affordable seems inevitable. At the same time, it’s possible that some of the other Mercedes-Benz directors don’t want to try and fix something that isn’t broken because the current G-class is so well-liked that it’s difficult to keep in dealerships.
Source: https://www.motortrend.com/
