RE: New Mercedes-AMG G63 launched as a hybrid

[jhonn]

NomduJour said:

It is an entirely inauthentic and cynical product.

Any thoughts on what would you have liked Mercedes do (or not do) with the G-Wagen when it came time to update in 2018, to make it more authentic than the current model?

[NomduJour]

jhonn said:

Any thoughts on what would you have liked Mercedes do (or not do) with the G-Wagen when it came time to update in 2018, to make it more authentic than the current model?

It’s a difficult question to answer, because a lot of what it was, was to do with it coming from a military/commercial/utility background - the Professional and military etc stuff still had a direct link to the road car until 2018.

Once that link is broken (and it is, completely), you’re left with a very confused car - and one which certainly doesn’t benefit in any way from combining a monster V8 with pickup underpinnings, however polished, damped and insulated it is. I think you’d want to completely reinterpret the styling (eg get rid of the silly fake hinges, stick-on arches etc), put it on a properly capable modern platform (remember a Defender has three times the torsional stiffness of a G-Class - I assume the line at Graz has some influence to it still being on a separate chassis ) - it could still be more off-road orientated than it is now, it could look just as offensive, but it would be a good vehicle in its own right, rather than pretending it has any connection with the original.

There’s clearly a strong business case for the car as it is, but it’s absolutely nothing to do with what’s conceptually wrong with it, because, as even this thread shows, people are happy to ignore that.

[J4CKO]

NomduJour said:

jhonn said:

Any thoughts on what would you have liked Mercedes do (or not do) with the G-Wagen when it came time to update in 2018, to make it more authentic than the current model?

It’s a difficult question to answer, because a lot of what it was, was to do with it coming from a military/commercial/utility background - the Professional and military etc stuff still had a direct link to the road car until 2018.

Once that link is broken (and it is, completely), you’re left with a very confused car - and one which certainly doesn’t benefit in any way from combining a monster V8 with pickup underpinnings, however polished, damped and insulated it is. I think you’d want to completely reinterpret the styling (eg get rid of the silly fake hinges, stick-on arches etc), put it on a properly capable modern platform (remember a Defender has three times the torsional stiffness of a G-Class - I assume the line at Graz has some influence to it still being on a separate chassis ) - it could still be more off-road orientated than it is now, it could look just as offensive, but it would be a good vehicle in its own right, rather than pretending it has any connection with the original.

There’s clearly a strong business case for the car as it is, but it’s absolutely nothing to do with what’s conceptually wrong with it, because, as even this thread shows, people are happy to ignore that.

It is a bit of a weird evolutionary thing, but they know who buys them and aim it at them, the original demographics that bought them likely now couldnt afford and woudnt want the modern one but I guess it has to keep some of what built the G Wagen image to keep the new demographic interested.

You talk of making it modern and restyling, isnt that what the GLE and GLS are ? Can pay 150 plus grand for a specced up GLS, and it will, I assume (driven neither) be likely better in every way than a G class.

I think the market would react negatively to cod G class styling applied to a GLE or GLS monocoque, they obviously made a very conscious decision to modernise what they had without making it too different, to the owners it doesnt matter that as a car a GLS is better, or an X5 handles better etc etc, because they arent a G class with the image it has.

There is a reason in so many films the bad bd has a black G63, even a wet Cheshire ponce like me could feel a bit like Latvian Mafia boss, Congalese Warlord or proper Guy Ritchie film gezeer for a bit when being sent by the missus for some Organic Couscous from Waitrose.

[jhonn]

NomduJour said:

It’s a difficult question to answer, because a lot of what it was, was to do with it coming from a military/commercial/utility background - the Professional and military etc stuff still had a direct link to the road car until 2018.

Once that link is broken (and it is, completely), you’re left with a very confused car - and one which certainly doesn’t benefit in any way from combining a monster V8 with pickup underpinnings, however polished, damped and insulated it is. I think you’d want to completely reinterpret the styling (eg get rid of the silly fake hinges, stick-on arches etc), put it on a properly capable modern platform (remember a Defender has three times the torsional stiffness of a G-Class - I assume the line at Graz has some influence to it still being on a separate chassis ) - it could still be more off-road orientated than it is now, it could look just as offensive, but it would be a good vehicle in its own right, rather than pretending it has any connection with the original.

There’s clearly a strong business case for the car as it is, but it’s absolutely nothing to do with what’s conceptually wrong with it, because, as even this thread shows, people are happy to ignore that.

Interesting that you mention the Defender - you're right that the new Defender is engineered completely different from the old one, which results in a much better vehicle. Interestingly, Land Rover kept some of the old Defender design cues like the rear light arrangement, shoulder line and alpine windows to identify it with the older model - similar to what Mercedes have done with the new(er) G-Wagen. I'm surmising from what you've said that Mercedes didn't go far enough with the modernisation, and should have done away with the separate chassis, solid rear axle, flat windscreen, etc. Given how popular the new Defender is, maybe you're right?
Still, I guess there's nothing stopping Mercedes in the future doing what Land Rover did with the Defender, if sales do drop-off.

[biggbn]

I'd buy a G class if I had the money for the same reasons I'd buy a Morgan. I love the old fashioned looks, the hand built vibe; even if it is not as well made as a production line car, I love the nod to the older models and I love the (relative) simplicity of the design and construction. I'd have a G class over any current Range Rover; for me, that's a design thar has really lost its way, but, hey, each to their own. I see nothing bankrupt or cynical about the cars design, it has an earned heritage, why wouldn't the company cash in on it?

Edited by biggbn on Wednesday 3rd April 14:46

[NomduJour]

“Earned heritage” - from cruising around Doobz shopping malls? It has the same amount of “heritage” as a plastic crown in a Windsor gift shop.

[biggbn]

NomduJour said:

“Earned heritage” - from cruising around Doobz shopping malls? It has the same amount of “heritage” as a plastic crown in a Windsor gift shop.

Yeah man, you've made that point several times, and that's how you feel, and that's cool. I feel differently. That's also cool, isn't it? You think shopping malls, I think Jackie Ickx, its just different connections our brains make, not much we can do about that.

Edited by biggbn on Wednesday 3rd April 14:59

[NomduJour]

This is certainly cool:

[biggbn]

NomduJour said:

This is certainly cool:

There we go!! That's where my head goes!