Efficiency gains for Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Mercedes-Benz has found a way to make the enormous GL-Class lighter, more fuel efficient and more powerful all at the same time.

Measuring 12cm more than five metres long, the GL350 diesel and the GL500 V8 might save money at the bowser, but will probably demand you build a new garage. It’s 2.14 metres wide and 1850mm high – and that’s before it’s fitted with the higher-riding off-road pack.

It won’t be for everyone, then, just people with enormous garages and wide roads around their houses. But Mercedes is thinking even about their well being, with enormous strides in safety and a V6 turbo-diesel that consumes 20 percent less fuel than its predecessor and a twin-turbo V8 petrol engine that uses 18 percent less.

There’s no sacrifice in performance for all that, though, with the GL350 BlueTec diesel generating 190kW (up from 155kW) and a stump-pulling 620Nm of torque (up from 540Nm) from just 1600rpm.

Those that prefer cleaner-smelling hands now get 300kW of power from 5000rpm and 600Nm from a diesel-esque 1600rpm and, with its fuel economy improvements, it will stretch the range out to 1280km. At least, that’s the Benz claim, though don’t believe it’s a car for the frugal, because it registers 11.3 litres/100km on the combined fuel economy cycle. The diesel does better, though, pulling a 7.4 litres/100km number.

Both engines will power all four wheels via another development of Benz’s seven-speed automatic transmission.

There are already plans afoot for a GL63 AMG version, with Benz’s hotshop tweaking its twin-turbo 5.4-litre V8 for the extra step-off torque the two-tonne-plus GL will need.

It’s a softer car than it was, though, with Benz claiming the GL-Class is now the “S-Class of SUVs”. Certainly, a wheelbase of 3075mm will help achieve that goal, and it also rides on what Benz once dubbed “Magic Carpet” during its development phase. This air suspension system not only caters for raising and lowering the big machine’s body above its wheels, but it works with cameras, radar and a big computer brain to smooth out road bumps before they get to the cabin.

Benz thinks the system works so well that they’ve done away with conventional mechanical anti-roll bars, the big steel bars that stop the body rolling in corners without sacrificing ride quality in a straight line. They’ve thought that before, though, and the system hasn’t met with universal acclaim in the SL sports car.

Yet the air suspension system has more tricks up its sleeve than that, because Benz can give it an Off Road package that can lift it to 285mm of ground clearance. That’s enough for 600mm of wading depth, and the Off Road pack also delivers a low-range transfer case, a centre diff lock and some underbody protection.

While most people won’t want that for their school runs in the big seven-seat SUV, it’s good to know it’s there, if for no other reason than to know the GL-Class hasn’t been emasculated completely on its way to being the S-Class of SUVs.

That S-Class impression goes further, with the addition of bits of electro-mechanical trickery like Active Curve that helps the machine stay on line in long corners, radar cruise control, crosswind assist, collision prevention assist, a pedestrian-friendly bonnet and a drowsy driver warning system.

Its 18-inch wheels run tyres with far higher aspect ratios than even the big Benz limo, so that helps the ride quality as well, though there are wheel and tyre options of up to 21 inches.

As with anything this size, weight is the enemy, so it will boast more aluminium than any previous GL. There will be aluminium front quarter panels, an aluminium bonnet and even aluminium for the front and rear axles links. They’ve even turned to the even-lighter magnesium to provide the internal bracing for the dashboard.

With seating for seven in a 2-3-2 arrangement, the luggage space is enormous, with 680 litres of space normally or 2300 litres with the five rear-most seats folded flat.

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