The Mercedes-Benz G-Class, originally a military vehicle called the Geländewagen, has evolved into a luxury SUV icon. Explore its journey from utilitarian beginnings to its current status as a highly sought-after vehicle.
Hand-made in Austria since 1979, the military conceptualised G-Wagen has become a cult icon both on-road and off-road. Two-thousand and twenty-four officially marked the 45th anniversary of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class . The story of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class becoming one of the most iconic vehicles on-sale today is well-known.
Commissioned as a light-duty military vehicle, the G-Class, or originally called Geländewagen – which translates as “cross-country vehicle”- became somewhat of a costly purchase despite its promised off-road capability. Hand-built by Magna Steyr at its Graz plant in Austria, an eventual decision by then Mercedes-Benz parent company, Daimler Benz, led to the Geländewagen being adapted for civilian use as a means of offsetting some of the likely losses from the initial poor military uptake.Clothed in rudimentary civilian gear as an off-road workhorse, the Geländewagen, or G-Wagen/G-Wagon as it eventually become known, debuted in 1979 as either a short wheelbase three-door, or a three-and-five-door long wheelbase SUV with little in the way of luxury.Adapted over time similar to its arch rival, the Range Rover, as luxury SUVs became more in demand, an extensive overhaul in 1990 opened a new chapter for a vehicle that soon became known as the “S-Class of SUVs”.Similar to the Range Rover that predated it by nine-years, the original, internally named W460 G-Wagen, offered little in the way of serious opulence.What it, however, lacked in spec was made-up for in off-road prowess by a low range transfer case, permanent four-wheel-drive, three locking differentials and a ground clearance of 210 mm.Mounted on a body-on-frame chassis, the move to civilian usage spawned a wider range of bodystyles, namely a two-door cabriolet, a two-door chassis cab bakkie and also a two-door panel modelled on the short or long wheelbase three-door. Modelled on the short wheelbase, a soft-top cabriolet similar to the Jeep Wrangler could also be ha
Mercedes-Benz G-Class Geländewagen Luxury SUV Off-Road Vehicle
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