Mercedes has begun testing the new baby Mercedes G-Class, as proven by spy photos that have appeared online. We present the first computer-retouched image created based on the spy photos of the new G-Class baby, which will debut in 2027, although not much is known about it yet.
Computer picture: Marian Cilibeanu (https://www.instagram.com/marianvalentincilibeanu/)
As early as autumn 2020, Ola Källenius, Mercedes CEO, announced that the G-Class range would be expanded in the coming years. At the Munich motor show in autumn 2023, Källenius announced for the first time that Mercedes would launch in a few years a “Little G,” as he called it at the time.
Then, at the CES show in Las Vegas in January 2024, Markus Schäfer, former Head of Technical Development at Mercedes, said that the small G would have electric propulsion only.
However, in the meantime, Mercedes has suffered a setback with the Mercedes G 580 EQ, which sells poorly in Europe and almost not at all in the USA, mainly because of its limited range and high price, despite top-level technology with four motors, sophisticated all-wheel drive, and carbon-fiber battery protection.
As a result, Mercedes appears to be rethinking its strategy. Recently, the first official photos of the Mercedes G-Class Cabrio were presented, and Magna announced the extension of the contract for G-Class production until 2034.
From the first spy photos, on which we based the computer-generated image, it can be seen that the baby Mercedes G-Class is shorter, less tall, the rear door is shorter, but the boxy silhouette and round headlights are retained, while the grille is more rounded, inspired by that of the new GLB.
What lies beneath the bodywork is still a mystery. According to unofficial information, Mercedes initially intended to use the MMA platform from the new compact range, but before leaving his position, Markus Schäfer stated clearly that the G-Class baby would not use the MMA platform.
Meanwhile, Toyota has launched the new baby Land Cruiser under the name FJ Cruiser, which retains the legendary Land Cruiser solution with a separate ladder frame and all-wheel drive with a low-range gear. The FJ Cruiser will be sold globally, but for now not in Europe.
Land Rover has also announced a baby Defender for 2027, but this will certainly not have a separate ladder frame, since even the current Defender no longer uses this solution.
Therefore, Mercedes is forced to offer the Little G off-road capabilities at the level of its rivals and at the level of its bigger brother, the G-Class.
Three platforms solution: What is the best choice?
One solution would be to use the MB.EA platform, but this is a dedicated electric platform that cannot accommodate other types of propulsion, and it seems that after the failure of the G 580 EQ, Mercedes wants to offer conventional powertrains.
Another solution would be to use the MRA II platform from the GLC, which can accommodate air suspension but not a separate ladder frame.
The simplest solution would be to use a shortened platform derived from the current G-Class, but in this case the car would not be much cheaper than the G-Class, even if one or two locking differentials were dropped and a four-cylinder engine were used.
In addition, Mercedes has another problem. The Land Cruiser is a large vehicle at 4,925 mm in length, while the FJ Cruiser is 350 mm shorter, measuring 4,575 mm, clearly differentiating itself from the Land Cruiser.
But the Mercedes G-Class is a more compact vehicle, measuring 4,820 mm in length, so the baby version would need to be 350–400 mm shorter, meaning around 4.40–4.50 meters. And for Mercedes it would be very difficult to ask for a price close to €100,000 for a car 4.4–4.5 meters long.
The cheapest G-Class, the G 450 d, costs €124,355. The G-Class baby should cost €40,000–50,000 less. Even if it were built on a derivative of the G-Class platform, retaining the ladder frame, low-range gear, at least a central differential and an optional rear differential, and using a four-cylinder engine instead of inline-six or V8 engines, it would still be difficult to achieve this price. At €75,000 one can currently buy the new Land Cruiser, and the FJ Cruiser will not exceed €60,000.
Given that the G-Class baby is already running in early road tests, it seems that Mercedes has already made its decision. We hope to find out more soon.
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