A “New” G-Class
What’s next for Mercedes-Benz’s G-Class? Is it going to get new features? A new interior? Or even a totally new redesign? Will Mercedes change the formula of one of its best-sellers, or will it remain the same?
Perhaps it would be a bad move to wholly update the look of the G-Class. It’s a staple status symbol for Mercedes-Benz, and changing it too much could ruffle a lot of feathers. The German automaker has learned from its missteps with its hybrid AMG models, which have missed the mark with enthusiasts. Now the brand is turning over a “old” leaf, so to speak, according to its CEO.
Mercedes
“Not losing its soul”
In a recent media roundtable, Road and Track, along with other members of the media, sat down with Mercedes executives to talk about the brand’s next steps. One of the topics was the Mercedes G-Class, and what the next generation will bring.
Stefan Weckbach is the CEO of Mercedes-AMG, and he oversees the G-Class and the Maybach businesses of the brand. When asked about the full-size SUV, he said: For the G-Class, we need to make sure that it’s going to be transferred to the future, but not losing its soul. And this is a big challenge. We’re working currently on the next-generation, and we will make sure that it stays a G-Class.”
Enthusiasts might throw back Weckbach’s statement at him, perhaps asking him to “make sure that it stays a G-Class.” For years, the G-Class has remained largely unchanged, save for updated powertrains, features, and safety standards. Long-time fans will be pleased to know that the Mercedes G-Class will continue to stay a G-Class into the future.
The automaker’s executives also noted that it will adopt a similar mindset for the rest of its lineup, emphasizing enduring traits like “safety, quality, ride and drive, longevity,” and listening to its loyal, pre-existing clientele.
Looking into Mercedes’ current portfolio, it doesn’t seem like it hit the mark with its latest creations. Perhaps the new-new models will be different.
Mercedes
V8s (and V12s?) in the Future
After the importance of listening to its fans was brought up, the media then shifted topics, asking about the reaction to the new four-cylinder hybrid C63. Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius defended the brand’s technical achievement with that powertrain, but admitted that they had misjudged its audience, and stated: “What we perhaps underestimated at the time was the good old V-8 crowd is a pretty good crowd. So you did not get the whole tribe with you,” he said.
Continuing on, Weckbach then confirmed that the brand is going back to the V8 engine for its incoming V8-powered CLE63, stating that “we learn from the reaction of our customers, so we go back to what our customers love: the V-8 AMGs.” Weckbach also confirmed that the new CLE63 is slated for a launch next year.
What about the V12 buyers? Well, Källenius then said to “watch this space.” Does this mean that V12 Mercedes fans will still continue to get their fill? Anyway, with all that being said, it appears that Mercedes has admitted that it has made a few mistakes along the way, and that listening to its core fan base is the right move going forward. Thankfully, the brand looks like it’s going to remain true to its identity moving forward, at least for now.
