G PRO PULLED FROM OZ MARKET

END OF THE LINE FOR G-PRO WAGON AND CABCHASSIS IN AUSTRALIA.

THE Mercedes-benz G-professional wagon and cab-chassis range has run its course in Australia, with the brand’s local arm pulling the model from its line-up. The G-pro was built on the older, liveaxled W461 platform, but prospective buyers will now have to look at the second-gen G-class (W463) if they want to own their own Gelandewagen, with M-B Australia currently only offering the V8-powered 430kw/850nm G63.

Still, there are a few G-pros residing in dealerships across the country, with Mercedes-benz Australia’s media relations and production communications manager, Ryan Lewis, telling us that both body styles are still around for the time being, with the majority being in cab-chassis configuration.

When asked of a successor to the G-pro, Lewis said Mercedes-benz Australia would be interested.

“There’s nothing to announce regarding a successor on the new platform at this stage,” he said, “but if a new G-pro is confirmed we would certainly be interested.”

The G-class is a true off-roader with almost 40 years of military heritage, and the G-pro came about as a military vehicle for the civilian market, created courtesy of a supply contract between M-B Australia and the Australian Defence Force.

Powered by a 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel the G-pro can only muscle up 135kw (at 3800rpm) and 400Nm (at 1200-1600rpm), and it sends it through a five-speed automatic transmission.

Despite steep price tags – the G300 cabchassis is priced at $119,900; the wagon at $109,900 – the utilitarian vehicles are quite basic in their design, lacking the luxury of a car you’d expect with a price tag greater than $100K.

The 16-inch alloy wheels are wrapped in all-terrain rubber; the floors are lined with rubber mats and no carpet; and the dash layout is old-school. Still, they’re a solid, reliable off-roader, with triple diff locks and four-wheel coil suspension … you can thank their military heritage for that.