2018 Mercedes G-Class enters production

- Mercedes-Benz claims that its G-Class has undergone the biggest transformation in its 39 years of existence

- Ride comfort and robustness have been further optimised 

- The development goal for the new G-Class was to improve its off-road capabilities

- Since its introduction in 1979, 300,000 G-Class SUVs have been produced and sales have increased steadily since the year 2009. In 2017, the G-Class had its best sales year ever by selling 22,000 units (majority going to Germany and the United States)

Mercedes-Benz has announced that production of its iconic 2018 Mercedes G-Class has kicked-off at Magna Steyr in Austria. Magna Steyr is a contract automobile manufacturer that has been hand-building the G-Class for Mercedes since 1979. 

Although the new G-Class looks strikingly familiar on the outside, a closer inspection reveals subtle updates that give it a more refined look, without shedding any of its rugged appeal. It is just as boxy and tall as the outgoing car. This trend extends to the interior design too, where the updates make the cabin look more contemporary.

Powering the G550 will be the same 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 motor from the outgoing G-Class which makes 421bhp and 610Nm of torque. However, it will lay down all that power on to the road through a new nine-speed automatic transmission. The AMG G63, on the other hand, will now make 585bhp and 850Nm of torque from its 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8. Mercedes-Benz claims that the new G-Class will be considerably quicker to reach 100kmph (at least by one second) thanks to being 170kg lighter.

“With the model change, the new G-Class experienced the biggest transformation in its 39 years-old history,” said Gunnar Guthenke, Head of the Off-Road Product Group at Mercedes-Benz. “At the same time we have kept the familiar and popular features of the design icon and further optimized the 'G' where ride comfort and robustness are concerned. For the production we continue to trust in our experienced production partner since 39 years, Magna Steyr.”