Mercedes Reportedly Building Baby G-Class
The Mercedes G-Wagen. For the longest time, a status symbol in its own right. Owned everywhere throughout the world by the rich and tasteless, or those select few who actually run the trucks through the mud and not just a semi-rainy street. With a price tag on these trucks that makes them what they are — luxury off-road, high-status grocery getters — it has long been understood that only those in the former category could afford one, but that is all about to change.
According to Car Magazine, Mercedes has a baby version of the G-Class in the works to satisfy the pent-up demand that surrounds the G for those who just can’t afford the big version. Reportedly, the new vehicle will be based off the current chassis from the GLA, but will have a completely new outward appearance; one that perfectly resembles the big G, but shrunken.
Tentatively called the GLB, the new vehicle will be another CUV in Mercedes’ lineup including the GLA and GLK. However, unlike the others, the GLB will counter the new Mercedes soft-line design language and stick with the current G-Wagen’s boxy exterior.
Both Car and Jalopnik cite that the new crossover will likely hit production in the next few years, meaning that we should be seeing some form of concept at this year’s auto shows. While I don’t think we need another Mercedes-Benz CUV (seriously, the market is completely flooded with them) it makes great financial sense for Mercedes to do this. The G-Class is loved the world over, and making a smaller, cheaper one is a brilliant marketing move. Let’s just hope it still has all the capabilities of its big brother.
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