The G-Wagen is looking to the past
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class, or Geländewagen, commonly referred to colloquially among dedicated fans and the popular media as the “G-Wagen,” is one of the brand’s most iconic vehicles. For four decades, the G-Class has stood at the pinnacle among luxury SUVs, combining a unique blend of engineering, off-road capability, unmistakable utilitarian boxy styling, and a sense of luxury that only Mercedes can offer.
Though it has roots as a military vehicle built at the request of the Shah of Iran, the Mercedes G-Wagen has ultimately become a status symbol for the rich and famous and a common sight in shopping avenues and posh enclaves like Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, New York City’s SoHo and Upper East Side, or outside Harrods in London. However, a new update from the brand shows that Mercedes is hard at work on a highly anticipated new version.
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes shows off the new G-Wagen Cabriolet
In an announcement released early on December 2, Mercedes-Benz formally stated that it is expanding the G-Class model family following what it calls “a hugely positive response” to teaser images that it released back in September this year. Mercedes said that its engineers are beginning to subject prototypes of these new vehicles to “rigorous test drives on the road” in Austria, before conducting intense cold-weather testing out in Sweden. In its statement, Mercedes stated that its testing is part of its dedication to shaping the future of the legendary off-roader and ensuring that none of the “G-Class feeling” is lost in its latest creation.
“Engineers are gathering comprehensive data to ensure that the open-top driving experience of the G‑Class Cabriolet is promising an unparalleled and unmistakable G‑Class feeling for future drivers,” it said. “At a later date, the G‑Class Cabriolet will also make its way to Sweden, where it will be put through demanding winter testing. Facing icy temperatures and snowy landscapes, the newcomer’s robustness, driving dynamics, and reliability will be thoroughly proven.”
Mercedes-Benz
The new G-Class Cab is a slight departure from the G-Class Cabs of yore
Since the G-Wagen launched in the 1970s, it has been available in a number of configurations, including hard-top, soft-top, and even three- and five-door variants. Previously, Mercedes has offered the G-Wagen Cabriolet exclusively in its two-door, short-wheelbase configuration in markets outside the United States, which has made it a popular gray import vehicle.
Mercedes hasn’t shared any detailed technical details of the new convertible G-Class yet, or whether it’ll be powered by an all-electric or ICE powertrain, but the pictures it recently released show that this new interpretation of the G-Class Cabriolet is slightly different from those in the past.
Mercedes-Benz
Although we couldn’t see the front of the new drop-top G-Wagen, Mercedes’ pictures show that the new G-Class Cabriolet looks very similar to the standard G-Wagen in terms of proportions. Judging by the photos it released, it appears to be based on the four-door version of the boxy SUV and features a fabric roof that stretches out past the entire roof.
This new layout is a more ambitious project than its last G-Wagen cabriolet; specifically, Mercedes-Maybach’s limited-production G650 Landaulet launched in 2017. True to the character of a landaulet, the ragtop allowed for open-air fun for just the rear-seat passengers, as the driver and front seat passenger lay under a metal roof.
Final thoughts
Despite the limited details, the G-Class Cabriolet is hotly anticipated. In an interview with MotorTrend in September, Michael Schiebe, the head of the G-Class and Mercedes-Maybach divisions at Mercedes, stated that the brand was hesitant to relaunch the G-Class cabriolet, despite enthusiastic pleas from fans.
“[The G-Class Cabriolet] is still a car that is not really rational,” Schiebe told MT at the time. “Even though for most customers it will be their second or third car, going to a G-Class convertible is like OK, is that really a car that you need? No. But maybe this is what makes it so special, and this is why there will be demand.”
Mercedes is set to start selling the new G-Class cabriolet as soon as 2026. Still, it says that it “will share more details in due time” about the new G-Class cabriolet, adding that the special edition SUV “is set to redefine expectations and inspire adventure.”
