DETROIT MOTOR SHOW: New Mercedes G-Class exposed

Jeep has the Rubicon Trail for its Wrangler (but not the new Compass) and now, it seems, Mercedes-Benz has the Schöckl for its G-Class.

Along with releasing the first exterior shots, the German luxury brand has now confirmed that “every new G-Class has to conquer the Schöckl”, a 1445m-high mountain near the Austrian city of Graz.

Pictured here still disguised by camouflage but clearly departing little from the near-40-year-old original it replaces (as confirmed by the latest teaser image earlier this week), the 2018 G-Class will make its world debut at the Detroit motor show on January 15.

Looks can be deceiving though because, as we reported in December, the new G is actually 160kg lighter, 150mm longer in wheelbase, 20mm wider and bigger, more luxurious and more high-tech inside.

Thanks to an all-new ladder frame with independent front suspension, Mercedes-Benz says it’s also more comfortable and capable than before, as evidenced by its prowess on the 5.6km Schöckl trek that includes gradients of up to 60 per cent and lateral inclinations of up to 40 per cent.

Benz says the new G-Class completed 2000km of strenuous Schöckl testing during its development and now completes the route with “noticeably more control and comfort”.

Key to its improved off-road capability are a rugged separate chassis, three 100 per cent locking differentials and low-range gear ratios as standard.

Mercedes claims its new suspension – including its solid rear axle – was developed with AMG and features generous wheel travel, high ground clearance, a front strut brace and front double wishbones mounted directly to the ladder frame (without a subframe) and the lower arms mounted as high as possible.

“Specifically for the G-Class, the new front axle is designed in such a robust way that the off-road performance and off-road capabilities of its predecessor are maintained and partly even surpassed,” says Merc.

At the rear-end, meantime, is a new rigid rear axle guided by four longitudinal control arms on each side plus a Panhard rod. “The off-road vehicle stays on track more robustly, and is agile and effortless in off-road applications,” claims Benz.

Key figures revealed today include ground clearance of 241mm (up 6mm), maximum fording depth in water and mud of 700mm (up 10mm), slope climbing ability of up to 100 per cent “on suitable surfaces”, driving stability at angles of 35 degrees (up 7°), departure and approach angles of 30 degrees (both up 1°) and a breakover angle of 26 degrees (up 1°).

Suspension spring/rebound travel is listed at 85/100mm up front and 82/142mm at the rear, while a new ‘G-Mode’ is selected independently of the chosen drive program as soon as one of the three diff locks is activated or low-range engaged.

According to Mercedes, the new off-road mode adapts the suspension damping and steering, accelerator and transmission characteristics to maximise off-road capability.

“The G simply swallows up major bumps, and even in extreme terrain the driver does not have to frantically hold on to the steering wheel to effortlessly manoeuvre.”

The new G-Wagen’s 9G TRONIC nine-speed torque converter automatic transmission is claimed to incorporate reduced shift and response times, and wide gear ratios to reduce noise and fuel consumption, and a new transfer case is flange-mounted directly to it.

The permanent all-wheel drive system sends 40 per cent of drive torque to the front axle and 60 per cent to the rear axle, and low-range (with a 2.93 reduction ratio – down from 2.1) can be selected in neutral at speeds of 40km/h. Drivers can switch back to high-range (1.00) at speeds of up to 70km/h.

Apart from the host of tech advances we listed previously, other new off-road tech includes an optional 360-degree bird’s eye camera, a reversing camera and three further cameras to detect obstacles below the window and bonnet lines.

High-definition images from these cameras and dynamic guide lines showing the road and the vehicle’s width are shown via various views on the multimedia system's display, which also offers an off-road screen showing data such as height, gradient, angle, compass, steering angle and active diff locks.

Mercedes has now also confirmed the new G-Class will be available with 18-inch all-terrain tyres “for particularly arduous applications”.

Tech details previously announced include electric power steering to replace the of G’s recirculating ball set-up, and S- and E-Class interior electronics including the 12.3-inch flat-screen infotainment system.

Standard features include convenience functions such as a driver’s seat memory, front and rear seat heating and a steering wheel with both cruise control and track pads for the instrument cluster.

As an option, there’s a fully digital instrument cluster with the choice of three different display styles to replace the standard tubular gauges.

An active multicontour seat package adds massage functions, climate-controlled seats with adjustable air chambers.

There will be three trim levels, ranging from SR1 and SR2 up to the AMG line with hand-stitched seats and steering wheel, plus clips on the back of the front seats for entertainment tablets, and a large glass sunroof.

The new G-Class is expected to be powered by fleet of Benz’s new engines ranging from a 2.9-litre in-line six-cylinder to a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, both with more performance and efficiency.

So far there’s no news of four- or six-cylinder turbo-diesel power, but at least the former should be a certainty for entry-level models.

The all-new G-Class will make its world debut in Detroit in V8-powered G 500 five-door
wagon form with cylinder deactivation, and insiders say its weight will be cut down to 2435kg – down from almost 2600kg.

Towing capacity should remain 3500kg and, like the new Jeep Wrangler, a pick-up version will eventuate – but perhaps not in this generation.

While continued supplies of a basic Australian Army-spec model are assured, there are no initial plans for a replacement for the existing, stripped-out Professional version.