The venerable Mercedes-Benz Geländewagen will not be softened for the next-generation in terms of its design – a promise made by Daimler boss Dieter Zetsche. While the G-Class will retain its unmistakable square styling, it will boast significant upgrades in the coming years.
Many enthusiasts were worried about the design of the next generation range-toping SUV, but after rumours that Land Rover’s iconic Defender will shed its boxy shape in favour of more rounded looks have hit the web recently, Mercedes-Benz reportedly wants to capitalise on the British firm’s decision.
Regulation changes in Europe and certain other markets may force a few tweaks to the G-Class design though – which might include widening it by as much as 100 mm, and lowering the roofline. All of which will aid in improving cabin room while also slightly improving the G-Class’s handling characteristics.
Also, the G-Class will feature a new nose that’ll better comply with EU pedestrian safety regulations, but it’s not known how much the increased focus on safety will affect its design.
While the full-bodied Range Rover and its smaller Evoque sibling continues to enjoy sales success around the world, Mercedes-Benz might be planning to develop a smaller version of the G-Class to take the fight to the Land Rover products. The baby G-Wagen will retain the boxy looks, but will be a lot more compact, and more importantly, won’t be as expensive.
