Open-Top Lifestyle
When you think about open-top driving, the images that you have in mind are mostly two-door sports cars, sometimes called a Cabriolet. However, when it comes to SUVs and the off-roading segment, open-tops are also part of the appeal, allowing you to take in the great outdoors by removing the roof.
Classic examples are the Jeep Wranglers, the old-school Toyota Land Cruiser, Land Rover Series 1, and even the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon (G-Class). The latter is one of the few on that list that has retained its original form (more or less), thus making it easier for the automaker to bring back the iconic removable roof.
Tweaking The Recipe
In a teaser post on its official Instagram Page, Mercedes-Benz showcased a series of videos and photos of the upcoming G-Class Cabriolet. Yes, the open-top lifestyle is making a return to Mercedes-Benz’s legendary off-roading SUV. The teaser video makes it clear that it retains the automatic retractable canvas roof that neatly folds into the rear.
Another major update is that this new G-Class Cabriolet will be switching up the body style; for the first time ever, it will be offered in a four-door layout, as opposed to the classic two-door. Details are still sparse at the moment; there’s no word yet if it’ll be available in both two- and four-door layouts, but the four-door does bring a whole new aspect to the iconic design. Powering the G-Class will likely be a V8, with a U.S. market introduction already announced.
Mercedes-Benz
40 Decades Of History
Back in 1979, the original G-Wagon Cabriolet was launched as a simple utilitarian variant of the SUV. It had a manual canvas roof and minimal creature comforts; in fact, it even had removable plastic windows. Originally, it was intended for use in agricultural or military applications.
By the 1990s, the identity switched, with Mercedes-Benz wanting to make it more of a luxury offering; the Cabriolet was refined up until its final production model back in 2013. The interior was made plusher, and the retractable roof was now hydraulic instead of manual.
Mercedes-Benz
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