But Mercedes-Benz retained all the original’s styling cues: Upright design, exterior mounted door hinges, flat glass, surface-mounted hood, and so on.
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When used in the new G-Class the MBUX fits Merc’s brief of offering luxury and easy access to entertainment and information without compromising the utilitarian feel and look the G-Wagen built its reputation upon. “In short, the new “G” is still a “G”, only better”.
Standard features of the full-time all-wheel-drive SUV include center, rear and front differential locks, active lane-keeping, active braking assist, traffic-sign assist, attention assist and 19-in. wheels.
The auto does not feature too many exterior changes and it still has the boxy looks it is known for.
The biggest updates come under the skin and in the cabin, although it’s a deliberate mix of old and new.
The interior is nearly unrecognizable, though, featuring a pair of 12.3-inch digital displays. Well, for the 2019 model year, the G-Wagen takes its first leap into the 21st century. On a more practical note, everyone gets more room, especially in the rear, where passengers get an extra 5.9 inches of legroom. The seats are created to be more comfortable and practical, with individual folding rear seats, plus heated, cooled and massaging front seats are optional.
Body rigidity is also improved on the ladder-type frame, with a strut tower brace at the front end connecting to front strut towers.
The new G-Class also felt more refined and comfortable, with its new suspension helping to make it feel more up-to-date to ride in. The maximum angle off approach is improved by one degree over the older truck. In America the G Class will be motivated via the G550 version – the same 4.0-liter biturbo V8 but featuring 416 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, coupled to the new, specifically tweaked nine-speed automatic transmission. Switch any of those differentials to lock, and the vehicle enters a new “G-Mode”, which changes everything from steering input to transmission shifting to throttle control in order to maximize off-road prowess. Industry sources also expect an entry-level diesel version to be launched in 2019, at around £85,000 which would be £7,000 less than the current cheapest G-Class.
New electromechanical rack-and-pinion steering should be a significant upgrade from the outgoing G-Class’ seemingly wooden recirculating ball setup.
And, Mercedes argues that embracing independent front suspension doesn’t hurt the G-Class off-road -on the contrary, the automaker says this G is better than ever. However, we’d expect them to be similar to those in other markets, where the vehicle comes with leather upholstery, a seven-speaker stereo set-up and a host of driver-assistance systems. The G’s growth means the interior is considerably larger, with more space for all occupants.
Put the new G-Class next to the old G-Class and it’s hard to tell the difference.
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The popularity of the G-Class has only grown, and it makes you wonder why Land Rover let its Defender model to automotive history. Let us know below.
