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Before the G-Class goes electrified like the Mercedes EQG, the status-laden and not entirely cheap internal combustion-engine SUVs will be recolored. Porsche is leading the way with the Cayenne, and Mercedes is following suit with a facelift for the G-Class in the summer of 2024. An era is coming to an end: Mercedes introduced its last special model with an eight-cylinder engine with the G 500 Final Edition. The V8 will remain exclusive to AMG in the future, and all other updated G-Class ranges will be available only with mild hybrid six-cylinder engines.
With the facelift of the G-Class, the German automaker is also working on a fully electric version, the EQG. However, the company does not want to miss the high profit margins of angular classics with combustion engines. Only the top-spec AMG G 63 can retain the revised four-litre eight-cylinder engine. A starter generator with 48-volt technology is expected to take the last remaining power from turbo lag. Exact technical data are not yet known, after all this is still a prototype we are in.
hydraulic magic
A prominent feature is that the top version has a hydraulic chassis. Hydraulic chassis? The technology has been around since the early 2000s under the name AMG Active Ride Control, proving to be a true suspension specialist to this day in the new SL and its closed-door sibling, the AMG GT. So, does it fit a fat off-road vehicle like the G 63? “We adopted the basics of the SL chassis and then completely adapted them to the G-Class,” explains dynamics expert Ralf Haug.
It is not easy to adapt such a hydraulic chassis to the G-Class, which weighs over two tons. When the body leans into a bend, hydraulic oil works against it using a pump to keep the body as straight as possible. The chassis does not need traditional stabilizers because hydraulics regulate changes faster and more precisely, thus increasing comfort, stability and traction. But suspension travel, axle kinematics and, above all, weight are different in the G-Class than in the SL. Therefore, the pressure created by the electric pump must be higher to lift the body up.
Suitability for terrain and road
We got our first taste of the new magic chassis in a still active coal mine south of Leipzig (E). In difficult off-road conditions, the shock absorber valves are open, the body is separated and the axles are at maximum level: the G-Class climbs hills and valleys with impressive comfort. The chassis absorbs every bump and is unaffected by balanced bumps.
How well the combination of springs, shock absorbers and hydraulics work together becomes clear in the sand hole: The luxury off-road vehicle races like there is no tomorrow on this high-speed track made of solid sand: The G 63 also fully lives up to the reputation of the G-Class .
Change of location and surface: Now the miracle chassis can show what it can do on asphalt. The difference between the most important driving modes, Comfort, Sport and Sport+, is noticeable: in Sport the body seems a little more connected and annoying shakes are avoided, while even in Sport+ the chassis does not become rock hard. If you drive over curbs, the surface detection feature records this and softens the shock absorbers. The steering is responsive, and when cornering the body almost does not lean to the side, so after a while you almost forget that you are sitting in such a long-legged giant.
Launched on the market in 2024
As has been the case with the G-Class for almost 50 years, there will also be a change on the exterior with the facelift, even if it is barely noticeable. Some elements were carried over from the electric EQG to improve aerodynamics. Looking at the closed interior, it can be assumed that the modern MBUX infotainment system will also come from the facelifted S-Class. There should be no head-up display as the short installation depth of the instrument panel does not offer enough space.
The exact date for the launch of the new G-Class is not yet known. Ready for series production, the EQG will likely hit the market in the first half of 2024; It is likely that the revised internal combustion engines will be at the same level. Prices are still open, of course. To put it into perspective: the current Mercedes AMG G 63 with a 585 hp (430 kW) eight-cylinder engine starts at 228,500 francs.
Source: Blick
I’m Ella Sammie, author specializing in the Technology sector. I have been writing for 24 Instatnt News since 2020, and am passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments in this ever-changing industry.
