G-Class [Spyshots] 2018 Mercedes-Benz G-Class (W464)

[CrunchSlaughtered]

I see a rigid rear axle, which makes me think that the technical changes are not as big as expected. Even I am confused if it is really a completely new construction or has a lot carried over from the previous generation

 

[CrunchSlaughtered]

It is so good that it is not much changed outside.The power of the Bruno Sacco's era.

Whasn't it designed by Puch and later acquired by Mercedes?

 

[klugscheisser87]

It’s also a clever move to hide the wider butt dimensions IMO.

Did nobody of you noticed the
completely rounded D-pillar?
For me the cubic looked better, because the whole car is cubic, but with that rounding they want to give a shot to the customers how the all new G will look like (some similarities with the concept)

 

[Centurion]

I see a rigid rear axle, which makes me think that the technical changes are not as big as expected. Even I am confused if it is really a completely new construction or has a lot carried over from the previous generation

Bare minimum I expect are:

• Easier steering
• Improved turning circle
• Higher comfort: e.g Active Body Control

Overall, this car has huge potential to give the Range Rover a proper competitor. The Maybach version could even lure customers away from the Bentyga. I rate it as the Mercedes' most important product launch since the A-Class hatchback.

The top end of luxury SUVs is big money and Mercedes have been caught sleeping. Hopefully the new G will be a smashing success and a benchmark in the segment.

 

[Sonder]

It’s also a clever move to hide the wider butt dimensions IMO.

Jap, but we loved the wide butt

 

[Monster]

Did nobody of you noticed the
completely rounded D-pillar?

Also does anyone know, are those air vents on the D pillar functional or not? If so what exactly do they do?

 

[klier]

Imagine if you could have a Porsche 993, Ferrari 355 or a 2012 Aston Martin Vantage with 2017 internals?

2017 is so.....2017

 

[WAND]

Solid axle gone ? :/

 

[CrunchSlaughtered]

Solid axle gone ? :/

But not this one

 

[WAND]

Yes. They already have GLE/GLS for soft offroad, they shoud keep solid axle at front.
Probably compromise because of onroad comfort...
Nice graphic for rear lights.

 

[CrunchSlaughtered]

Yes. They already have GLE/GLS for soft offroad, they shoud keep solid axle at front.
Probably compromise because of onroad comfort...
Nice graphic for rear lights.

And being wider also doesn't help in real off-roading, because you can not go trough tight spaces

 

[Centurion]

Does anyone know whether there will be an entry level 6 cylinder version such as a G400?

Yes. They already have GLE/GLS for soft offroad, they shoud keep solid axle at front.
Probably compromise because of onroad comfort...
Nice graphic for rear lights.

The word compromise is relative as its capabilities will be good enough for even frequent off-roaders. Even the Cayenne is mighty capable even without a solid axle. For the 1% who drive through amazon forests and very demanding terrain, there are cheaper and more capable cars than the G-Class or even Range Rover.

 

[Merc1]

Bare minimum I expect are:

• Easier steering
• Improved turning circle
• Higher comfort: e.g Active Body Control

Overall, this car has huge potential to give the Range Rover a proper competitor. The Maybach version could even lure customers away from the Bentyga. I rate it as the Mercedes' most important product launch since the A-Class hatchback.

The top end of luxury cars is big money and Mercedes have been caught sleeping. Hopefully the new G will be a smashing success and a benchmark in the segment.

How have they been caught sleeping when they have more S-Class variants (Maybach, Cabrio etc) and AMG GT variants than every before? Mercedes' product range has never been thicker at the top end. Not to mention all the variants of the outgoing G-Class.

M

 

[Centurion]

How have they been caught sleeping when they have more S-Class variants (Maybach, Cabrio etc) and AMG GT variants than every before? Mercedes' product range has never been thicker at the top end. Not to mention all the variants of the outgoing G-Class.

M

Sorry my bad. I meant top end luxury SUVs not cars. I have edited my post.

 

[Serpens]

I see a rigid rear axle, which makes me think that the technical changes are not as big as expected. Even I am confused if it is really a completely new construction or has a lot carried over from the previous generation

There's still a live axle in the rear but it's a new one. It's a new platform; this car is wider, has an independent front suspension, and has been updated to meet modern standards of weight management/rigidity/safety.

Yes. They already have GLE/GLS for soft offroad, they shoud keep solid axle at front.
Probably compromise because of onroad comfort...
Nice graphic for rear lights.

I've owned a G-wagen and a Jeep Grand Cherokee with front/rear live axles and I'm not going to be sad to see it go. The improvement in on-road manners will be worth it to me.

 

[Serpens]

Bare minimum I expect are:

• Easier steering
• Improved turning circle
• Higher comfort: e.g Active Body Control

Overall, this car has huge potential to give the Range Rover a proper competitor. The Maybach version could even lure customers away from the Bentyga. I rate it as the Mercedes' most important product launch since the A-Class hatchback.

The top end of luxury SUVs is big money and Mercedes have been caught sleeping. Hopefully the new G will be a smashing success and a benchmark in the segment.

It absolutely won't have Active Body Control. That would require a hydraulic suspension that this won't have. This vehicle doesn't even appear to have Airmatic.

Further, I think you're putting to much weight on the G-wagen's impact on the luxury SUV market. Mercedes is going for a two-prong approach; the new GLS will be the one to be the Range Rover's match in terms of over the top luxury and ride comfort. This G-wagen will still be trucky, optimized for off road, and styled to keep its iconic status.

 

[Centurion]

It absolutely won't have Active Body Control. That would require a hydraulic suspension that this won't have. This vehicle doesn't even appear to have Airmatic.

Further, I think you're putting to much weight on the G-wagen's impact on the luxury SUV market. Mercedes is going for a two-prong approach; the new GLS will be the one to be the Range Rover's match in terms of over the top luxury and ride comfort. This G-wagen will still be trucky, optimized for off road, and styled to keep its iconic status.

Interesting. So you think the G will remain a low volume halo model while the GLS will be the one o match or exceed the sales of the RR?

 

[Serpens]

Interesting. So you think the G will remain a low volume halo model while the GLS will be the one o match or exceed the sales of the RR?

Exactly. And in the U.S. the GLS already exceeds the sales of the RR. That's to be expected as the GLS is positioned as more of an Cadillac Escalade competitor currently. The upcoming GLS will need to be flexible enough to do family duty and be a personal luxury vehicle. Same for the BMW X7 honestly.

 

[Merc1]

Interesting. So you think the G will remain a low volume halo model while the GLS will be the one o match or exceed the sales of the RR?

Price will dictate this. The G560 will be at least 125K. RR starts at 87K. They both cover a vast price range though, but that basic RR I see on the street most of the time is under the starting price of a G550. They could actually sell for the same money if someone has their ATP numbers?

M

 

[Merc1]

The G-wagen’s most significant update—an independent front suspension in place of a live axle—was immediately apparent on the move, where the old truck’s bouncy, stiff-legged motions are replaced by a greater composure that appeared to be far easier to manage. Front wheel articulation was much better controlled as the G traversed sharp rocks and deep ruts, while its honest-to-goodness, variable-ratio, electrically assisted rack-and-pinion steering never forced the driver to saw at the wheel the way one had to do with the recirculating-ball setup in the old truck. A live rear axle still resides under the back end, although the former trailing-arm setup has been replaced by a more precise arrangement employing a Panhard rod. Steel coil springs and adaptive dampers support each corner; performance-oriented AMG models will use a more street-friendly setup, including a rear anti-roll bar that the G550 lacks.

Thanks in part to the big front control arms mounted high in the new G-class’s chassis, with a curving strut-tower brace tying their mounts together for extra strength, Mercedes says overall suspension travel has increased slightly to 7.3 inches up front and 8.8 inches in back. That’s not a lot for a dedicated off-roader, and the 265/60R-18 Falken Wildtrack all-terrain tires on the preproduction prototypes were modestly sized. Yet our G exhibited impressive shock absorption and attitude control even when it was careening downhill at near reckless speeds.

2019 Mercedes-Benz G-class Prototype Ride | Review | Car and Driver


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