by The New Compact Mercedes G-Class is Approaching
Mercedes-Benz is actively working on creating a compact version of its legendary G-Class off-roader, which will receive an electric drive. The first camouflaged prototypes have already been repeatedly caught by photographers’ lenses, and based on these shots, illustrations have appeared that allow us to imagine the future car.
Key details about the novelty are already known:
Design: Heir to a Legend
Mercedes designers do not seem to be planning to deviate from the iconic silhouette of the “Geländewagen”. The goal is to proportionally shrink the model, only slightly smoothing out the famous sharp edges. In renders created by Mykyta Chuiko for the publication Kolesa, the compact G-Class is recognizable by its characteristic round headlights, which are now partially hidden under the body’s brow. The new radiator grille adds character, and softer contours bring the design closer to other Mercedes off-roaders.
As can be seen from the spy shots, the side of the scaled-down model retains the same upright, “square” shape as the full-size version. However, the proportions are different. The noticeably shorter wheelbase forced engineers to incorporate unusually small rear doors into the design, which look somewhat awkward. It’s hard to imagine much legroom behind them, so expectations for rear passenger space should be tempered.
Technical Features and Future
The rear is also typical for the G-Class, although it looks a bit softer. One noticeable difference is the absence of the traditional spare wheel mount. Instead, there is a thinner square box located there, which will likely store charging cables, as the compact G-Class will enter the market as an electric vehicle.
According to preliminary data, Mercedes plans to build the “little G” on a special platform, modeled after a ladder-frame chassis. This approach is intended to preserve the vehicle’s true off-road potential. Exact technical details remain a secret for now, but the powertrain will most likely be borrowed from other models of the concern, possibly including components from the all-electric GLC.
Mercedes designers do not seem to be planning to deviate from the iconic silhouette of the “Geländewagen”.
With the design, Mercedes seems to have gotten everything right. The more complex questions are hidden under the hood and in the strategy. While some buyers will be attracted by the electric drive, others may want a hybrid powertrain option or even a conventional internal combustion engine. Given how quickly market tastes change, it would not be surprising if the company left these possibilities open for the future.
The appearance of the compact G-Class could be a very successful move for Mercedes, as it combines iconic design with modern trends of electrification and compactness. This opens up access for the brand to a new, perhaps younger audience that values the model’s status but does not require large dimensions. The success of this model will largely depend on how successfully it manages to preserve the same “genes” of a true off-roader in a smaller format and what its actual off-road capability and dynamics will be. The market for compact premium electric off-roaders is becoming increasingly fierce, and Mercedes has every chance to occupy its own unique niche in it.
