Mercedes celebrates record year for G-Wagen sales

Mercedes-Benz has announced that 2016 has been a record year for sales of its G-Class, with sales of the large SUV exceeding 20,000 for the first time in its 37-year history.

Attributing its renewed success to increased personalisation, the 20,000th car to roll off the Austrian production line was a white Mercedes-AMG G63 that came with a bespoke 'designo' leather interior.

More than a quarter of a million G-Wagens have been made at its Magna Steyr Graz plant since production first began there back in 1979.

Originally created to be a military vehicle before being repurposed for civilian duties the big SUV will be replaced by a next-generation model in 2017.

Already caught cold-weather testing, the next model keeps its boxy looks but will be longer, wider and taller than the car it replaces but will shed around 200kg from its kerb weight.

Set to receive more modern independent suspension up front the next G-Wagen is still expected to keep its live, coil-suspended axle.

Under the bonnet the current range of V6 turbo-diesels and twin-turbo V8 and V12 engines will carry over the possibility of a plug-in hybrid joining the range after launch.

All will come with seven or nine-speed automatic gearboxes with a development of the current SUV's tough all-wheel drive.

Recently, Mercedes-Benz expanded its G-Class range by offering the G-Professional Cab Chassis ute to Australian buyers.