Detroit, during the 2018 North American International Auto Show: Mercedes-Benz has delivered on its promise to produce a thoroughly revised new 2019 G-Class. The iconic utility model gets a top-to-bottom technical and stylistic makeover, the most radical it has undergone in nearly 40 years. Consumers can expect to see it on the market before the end of the year.
Reinforced and more solid than before, even while it has shed some 375 lbs, the new G-Class is about 6 cm longer and 11 cm wider than previously, which translates into more interior space. It now sports LED headlights, features a wide range of drive assist technologies, offers occupants an updated and higher-quality interior (via, for example, available diamond-stitched leather upholstery), and coddles them with a new suspension developed with the help of AMG. The body structure is more tightly assembled and the wheel arches as well as the bumpers are now more fully integrated into the vehicle.
Job number-one for the engineers was to redefine the dynamic behaviour of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, with the goal to make it nimbler and more comfortable on the road, and even better-performing when off-road. Ground clearance has been boosted by 6 mm, fording depth by 10 cm, and departure and breakover angles by 1 degree.
Up to five drive modes are possible, each adjusting the parameters of the engine, transmission, suspension, steering and control systems: Comfort, Sport, Eco, Individual and G-Mode. The latter, ideal on mountain excursions and on difficult terrain, activates independently as soon as one of the three differentials locks or the low range off-road reduction gear has been activated.
Under the hood of the new G 550 sits a 4.0L twin-turbo V8 generating 416 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque. The 9-speed automatic transmission was specially adapted for this engine, so that it provides quicker shifts and a quieter ride. The steering is now rack-and-pinion with electromechanical assistance.
You can get a good look at the new 2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Class in these videos: