All-new G-Class remains a classic

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class set the standard in off road performance, and now the G Wagen is ready to continue its success story.

The latest update to the icon premiered at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this year, and now the new G-Class is making its Chinese debut, marking another leap forward both in technology and performance.

Improving on a classic like the G-Class was certainly a challenge, given its welldeserved reputation as a automotive design icon.

The G-Class has always combined the two extremes of off-road ruggedness with interior comfort. But though its exterior has remained much the same since 1979, its interior and technical aspects have seen continual enhancements over the decades since its first launch.

The new model remains true to the G-Class blend, with its off-road reputation maintained through its offroad trinity: the ladder-type frame, three 100-percent differential locks and low-range off-road gear reduction.

On the road, though, the performance of the new G-Class has been substantially improved through its new front axle design and 9G-TRONIC transmission, which makes it both more agile and more comfortable.

What made the G-Class an icon remains: the boxy design, distinctive door handles and the characteristic door closing sound, exterior protective strip, the exposed spare, and the prominent turn indicators.

The G-Class has a justifiable reputation as the original king of off-roaders, and the forerunner of all later Mercedes-Benz SUVs.