I was as keen as anyone to express dismay at Mercedes continual ‘pimping’ of the G-Wagen upmarket. However, a bit like when Porsche released the Cayenne, this may have been a short sighted view. Turning the G into a high margin cash cow, may have just prolonged the life of one of the original 4x4 legends. While I still got no time for the bling versions, the fact that they are still cranking out ‘real’ ones, as well as military and civilian utility versions, means maybe I was too swift to judge those AMG manhood ‘enhancers’ trinkets.
So it looks like Merc are still actively developing the G banger.
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-german…
As some on the commenters notice, that definitely appears to be a couple of lower control arms at the front. So maybe this isn’t a G as we know it. Maybe a G-Wagen alike body on the new Mercedes pick up chassis? Safe to say that isn’t going to be a small vehicle when it comes out. Not that anything like that really is these days.
Ironically this may have all started when Toyota gave the 70 series some serious development and a new lease of life back in 2007. Which paid dividends for them and maybe opened up the idea that this rugged old tech maybe still had a place, amongst industry and consumers. But then they are going to kill it off.
Definitely. Maybe...
Or maybe we’re just going to make a new one?
Maybe.
I think what the shiny G-Wagens have proven is that with everything becoming just so boring competent, there exists a market for a vehicle that maybe doesn’t do everything well. It does some things excellently, other things? It’s a little, errrr, out of date on them. However there are many a buyer, at many a price point, who are happy with that compromise. I think it’s called character, in the old language.
Your move Land Rover.